Romania braces for heatwave in south, storms elsewhere

Romania is experiencing a dramatic weather divide as a heatwave shifts towards the southern parts of the country while storms threaten other areas. The national meteorological administration (ANM) forecasts temperatures to climb as high as 37 degrees Celsius in the south by Sunday, prompting a yellow code alert for heatwave conditions in Oltenia, Muntenia, and Dobrogea. In these southern regions, the temperature-humidity index is expected to exceed critical levels, indicating significant discomfort. Nights in the south will also be tropical, with minimum temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, other parts of the country will see cooler weather, with minimum temperatures as low as 8 degrees Celsius predicted in the Eastern Carpathian depressions. The meteorological forecast also includes warnings for severe atmospheric instability and heavy rainfall in four counties: Vâlcea, Argeș, Dâmbovița, and Prahova. These areas are expected to experience torrential downpours, thunderstorms, wind gusts of 50-70 km/h, and hail ranging from 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter. Rainfall could reach 15-25 liters per square meter in one to three hours, with isolated amounts exceeding 40 liters per square meter. Averse and storms are also possible in the Southern Carpathians, parts of the Eastern Carpathians, Muntenia, and northeastern Oltenia, though with generally less intense rainfall.