Heat Wave in Romania

Meteorologists announce the intensification of the heat wave in Romania.

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Mihai Pelin, 30.06.2022, 13:50

A wave of heat has settled over Romania. It also affected Greece and Bulgaria, some of the most sought-after holiday destinations for Romanians. The heatwave has equally affected several western countries in recent days, including Spain, France, Great Britain and Belgium, as well as United States. In France, temperatures reached up to 43 degrees Celsius in some areas, exceeding the highest values ever recorded in June. In Spain, several fires have occurred that are wreaking havoc in the north, center and south, and tens of thousands of hectares of land have been burned to ashes. To blame is a wave of hot air coming from northern Africa. Temperatures are also increasing alarmingly in Romania.

Meteorologists have announced that temperatures will exceed 35 degrees C starting in the western part of the country, after which the heatwave may extend to the southern areas, towards the end of the week, when temperatures of up to 40 degrees C are expected. Until Friday evening, an orange code alert for hot weather is in place for nine counties in the west, northwest and locally in the center of Romania, and a yellow one for the rest of the country. Bucharest is in for several scorching days, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees C. Thermal discomfort will be particularly high throughout the country, and the temperature-humidity index will exceed the critical threshold of 80 units. These high values are felt even more strongly by the human body and precautions must be taken, experts say.

Doctors recommend people to drink a minimum of 2.5 liters of liquids per days during the scorching days, to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to avoid alcohol and drinks with a high caffeine content such as coffee, tea and cola. At the same time, people should avoid staying in the sun and walking outside between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. In fact, people with various medical conditions are advised to stay in the house until the evening. And if they must go out, then they should wear sun hats, light-colored, loose clothes made of natural fibers. Outdoor activities such as sports and gardening should also be avoided.

For the month of July, meteorologists in Romania have announced periods of heat alternating with periods of torrential rains, although rain will be scarce throughout the country. The UN has warned that the drought will be the next big problem facing humanity, and temperatures will reach shocking thresholds. The World Meteorological Organization urges the international community to adapt. And one of the ways to achieve this is to set up early warning systems and action plans. For its part, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that for a temperature increase of plus 1.5°C, the warm seasons will be longer and the cold seasons shorter. (LS)