Romania hit by a wave of polar air

Romania has seen its first snowfall this year.

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Roxana Vasile, 25.09.2018, 12:30

Autumn officially arrived in Romania precisely on Sunday at 4:54 hours local time. The equinox marked the arrival of the astronomical autumn in the northern hemisphere, where days will continue to get shorter and nights longer, right up to the winter solstice on December 21st. These longer nights are expected to usher in lower temperatures, which during the day will rise only until 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., unlike in summer, when we saw them rising until evening. Romania has made the transition to autumn more abruptly than expected by many.

A wave of cold air has engulfed the entire country in only 2-3 days. After on Saturday and Sunday temperatures soared to 30-31 degrees Celsius in certain areas, they shortly plummeted to values by 10 and 15 degrees lower than usual for this time of the year. Romania actually had two seasons on Monday: in its central regions people switched on their heating systems, whereas on the Black Sea coast others were having a great time basking in the sun and swimming in the warm sea water.

On Monday night, the wave of cold air swept over all the territory and temperatures plunged below zero in the mountainous regions on Tuesday. Minus 8 degrees C were reported at the Omu Peak in the Carpathians and minus 5 degrees in the Fagaras Mountains. Snow removal operations commenced on Romania’s highest and most spectacular motorway the Transfagarasan, where the snow layer reached up to 10 centimeters. So, temperatures sharply dropped all throughout Romania on Tuesday with intensified wind and local showers in the country’s northern and central regions as well as with snowfalls in the mountains.

According to the latest weather forecasts, the bad weather will continue to keep Romania in its grip until Friday, when temperatures are expected to rise again. However, experts believe that in spite of these cold days, Romania will see genuine autumn days only in October though temperatures are expected to be higher than usual for this time of the year, with scarce rain. Experts have also agreed that seasons are no longer what they used to be, as global warming has a significant impact in the northern hemisphere as well.