Romania faces extreme heatwave with temperatures reaching 41C

Romania is bracing for its most severe heatwave of the summer, with the National Meteorological Administration issuing successive red, orange, and yellow alerts for extreme heat and thermal discomfort. These warnings are in effect until Monday morning, with temperatures predicted to soar to extreme levels across nearly the entire country, and nights remaining tropical.

Temperatures are expected to reach 41 degrees Celsius in the shade, and even higher in direct sunlight. From Saturday morning to Sunday morning, regions like Oltenia, Muntenia, Dobrogea, and Moldova will experience unusually high temperatures for late June, generally between 30 and 34 degrees Celsius. The temperature-humidity index (THI) will exceed the critical threshold of 80 units in plains and locally in hilly areas. Nighttime lows will remain high, ranging from 17 to 20 degrees Celsius.

For the same period, an orange alert is in place for Banat, Crișana, Maramureș, and Transilvania, where the heatwave will intensify. Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 32-34 degrees Celsius in southern and eastern Transylvania and up to 38-39 degrees Celsius in the Western Plain. Nights will be tropical, with minimums between 17 and 22 degrees Celsius.

Subsequently, on Saturday, the National Meteorological Administration issued a new red alert for extreme heat, valid from Monday morning until Wednesday, covering three-quarters of the country, including Bucharest. According to the forecast, from June 29 at 10:00 AM to July 1 at 10:00 AM, regions like Banat, Crișana, Maramureș, Transilvania, Moldova, Oltenia, and the western half of Muntenia will record extreme maximum temperatures comparable to absolute June records. Thermal discomfort will be particularly acute, with the THI exceeding 80 units. Maximum temperatures will range between 35 and 41 degrees Celsius, with the highest values in Banat and Crișana. Nights will remain tropical, with minimums generally between 17 and 25 degrees Celsius. During the same interval, an orange alert for intense heat, heatwaves, tropical nights, and significant thermal discomfort will be in effect for Dobrogea and the eastern half of Muntenia, where the THI will surpass the critical threshold of 80 units. Maximum temperatures will range from 32 degrees Celsius in the Danube Delta to 38 degrees Celsius in other areas.