Romania faces 37°C heatwave on Monday before storms and 8-10°C temperature drop on Tuesday
Romania's National Meteorological Administration forecasts a sharp weather shift from a 37°C heatwave on Monday 17 August to storms, hail and an 8-10°C temperature drop by Tuesday 18 August.
Yellow code heat alerts across western and central Romania
Romania's National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued two yellow code heat alerts for consecutive days. On Sunday 16 August, between 10:00 and 21:00, the alert covers six western counties: Timiș, Arad, Bihor, Satu Mare, Maramureș and Sălaj, where maximum temperatures will reach 33-35°C. On Monday 17 August, the alert expands to 17 counties across Banat, Crișana, Maramureș, west and southwest Oltenia, most of Transylvania and northeast Moldova, valid from 10:00 to 21:00. Maximum temperatures on Monday will range between 33 and 37°C, with the highest values expected in the Western Plain. In restricted areas of the western and southwestern regions, the temperature-humidity index will reach the critical threshold of 80 units.
Storms, wind and hail from Monday night
ANM has also issued a weather advisory for instability, valid from 17 August at 21:00 to 18 August at 21:00. Wind gusts will reach 40-50 km/h and locally over 50-60 km/h, first in the western regions overnight Monday into Tuesday, then across most of the country on Tuesday. Torrential rainfall will accumulate 15-20 litres per square metre generally, and over 20-25 l/sqm in restricted areas. Isolated squalls and small hail of 1-2 centimetres in diameter are also forecast.
- Yellow code heat alert in 6 western counties (Timiș, Arad, Bihor, Satu Mare, Maramureș, Sălaj), temps 33-35°C
- Expanded yellow code heat alert to 17 counties, temps 33-37°C, highest in Western Plain
- Weather alert begins: wind gusts 40-60 km/h, torrential rain, hail in western regions
- Sharp cooling across north, center, west and southwest; temps drop 8-10°C to 19-28°C
Regional progression of the storms
Instability will first affect Banat, Crișana, Maramureș and western Transylvania overnight from Monday to Tuesday. On Tuesday, storms will extend across most of Transylvania and Moldova, in mountain and submontane areas, and more narrowly across the rest of the country. The strongest change will be felt on Tuesday 18 August in the north, center, west and southwest of Romania.
Temperature drop of 8-10°C
The most significant shift will be thermal. On Tuesday, maximum temperatures will drop by more than 8-10°C compared to the preceding days, falling to between 19 and 28°C. The lowest values are expected in northern Moldova.
- Sun 16 Aug (west counties)
- 35 °C
- Mon 17 Aug (alert zones)
- 37 °C
- Tue 18 Aug (after cooldown)
- 28 °C
Bucharest forecast
In Bucharest, the maximum temperature will not exceed 34°C over the next three days. Sunday will see a maximum of around 31°C and a minimum of 15-16°C. Monday will reach 33-34°C with a minimum of 17-18°C. Tuesday will see a maximum of 32-33°C, with wind intensifications in the afternoon and evening reaching gusts of 40-45 km/h.
