Romania braces for thunderstorms: yellow code warning for 26 counties and Bucharest
Heavy rain, hail and wind gusts up to 70 km/h are forecast for 26 counties and the capital from noon on 12 July, with isolated downpours exceeding 40 litres per square metre.
On Saturday, 11 July, Romania's National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued a yellow code warning for severe atmospheric instability set to begin at noon on Sunday, 12 July, and last until 02:00 on Monday, 13 July. The alert covers 26 counties and the capital Bucharest, bringing heavy rainfall, hail, and strong wind gusts.
Warning details
The warning forecasts periods of torrential rain, frequent lightning, and wind gusts reaching 50 to 70 km/h. Isolated storms are possible, along with hail of small to medium size, between 1 and 3 cm in diameter. In short intervals of 1 to 3 hours, or through accumulation, rainfall totals of 15 to 25 litres per square metre are expected, with isolated amounts exceeding 30 to 40 l/mp. The phenomena will be most intense during the afternoon and evening.
Sunday (12 July) will see periods of atmospheric instability in the Southern Carpathians, locally in the Eastern Carpathians and the Banat Mountains, southeastern Oltenia, Muntenia and western Moldova, and especially in the evening and at night in Dobrogea. This will manifest as torrential showers, electrical discharges, wind intensifications (gust speeds of 50-70 km/h) and, in limited areas, storms and hail of small to medium size (1-3 cm). In short time intervals (1-3 hours) or through accumulation, water quantities will be 15-25 l/mp and isolated over 30-40 l/mp.
Affected areas
The yellow code is in effect for the counties of Suceava, Neamț, Bacău, Vrancea, Buzău, Brăila, Tulcea, Constanța, Ialomița, Călărași, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Teleorman, Olt, Prahova, Dâmbovița, Argeș, Caraș-Severin and the city of Bucharest fully, and partially for Covasna, Brașov, Sibiu, Vâlcea, Gorj, Hunedoara, Alba and Mehedinți. The mountainous zones (Southern and Eastern Carpathians, Banat Mountains) and the plains of Muntenia and western Moldavia will see the first impacts, while Dobrogea, including the port city of Constanța, is expected to bear the brunt later in the evening and overnight.
- Warning comes into effect for 26 counties and Bucharest
- Thunderstorms, hail and wind gusts up to 70 km/h in southern mountains and Muntenia
- Severe weather shifts to Dobrogea, intensifying overnight
- Yellow code warning expires
Bucharest forecast
A special forecast for the capital, valid for the same interval, predicts generally unstable weather with temporary cloud cover, showers of 15 to 20 l/mp (isolated over 25 l/mp), electrical discharges, wind gusts of 40 to 60 km/h, and possible hail of 1 to 3 cm. The maximum temperature will be 29 to 31 degrees Celsius, with a minimum of 15 to 16 degrees.
Broader outlook
ANM notes that specific instability phenomena will occur in isolated areas across the rest of the country on Sunday, and will expand early next week, especially in the eastern half of Romania. On Saturday, beach conditions at Eforie Nord were perfect, with air temperatures of 28°C and sea water at 24-25°C, but the weather is set to deteriorate sharply when the warning takes effect.
Manifestations specific to atmospheric instability will be present on Sunday (12 July) in isolated areas also in the rest of the territory, and at the beginning of next week on extended areas, especially in the eastern half of the country.
