LIVE images from the Capital / “Snow layer of up to 50 cm”, meteorologists announce. Bucharest and 12 counties, under orange blizzard code
A heavy snow and blizzard code orange went into effect Tuesday at 8 p.m. The weather warning is valid until Wednesday, February 18, at 12:00 p.m. During the 16-hour weather alert, which covers Bucharest and 12 counties, “strong blizzard”, “heavy snow” and a snow layer of up to 50 cm are announced. In parallel, other counties are under a yellow blizzard code. It is “probably the most severe episode of this winter”, said the director of forecasting from the National Agency for National Statistics.
Possible delays at Henri Coandă Airport
BoardingPass, a website specialized in aviation news, warned on Tuesday evening that the weather conditions in Bucharest and the resulting deicing may cause air traffic delays. Until Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m., 14 landings were scheduled on Henri Coandă.
VIDEO Air traffic “in winter conditions” in Bucharest. “It will inevitably lead to delays”
The situation in the country at this time
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LIVE images from Bucharest. Snowpack two hours after the code went into effect
It has been snowing in Bucharest for almost two hours, since the orange blizzard code came into effect. No incidents have been reported so far, and it is being driven in winter conditions.
Live images from Unirii Square:
The Infotraffic Center announced, at 8:30 p.m., that there are problems due to snow on DN1.
Difficult traffic on DN1
“Road traffic is hampered on DN 1 Brașov – Ploiești, in winter conditions, as a result of the bad weather”.
The authorities have also taken measures. More specifically, “a measure has been established to restrict traffic with a maximum permissible total weight of more than 7.5 tons, on the direction Bucharest – Brașov, near the town of Nistorești, starting at 20:00. At the same time, heavy traffic will be diverted from near Ploiești on DJ 236 towards DN 1A.”
“We do not rule out issuing code red”
The director of the National Meteorological Administration (ANM), Elena Mateescu, said in an intervention on Antena 3 CNN that the institution does not rule out a possible increase in the level of alert.
The head of ANM explained that, currently, the areas under code orange are at the “upper limit of the wind speed criteria”.
“We do not rule out issuing code red.” The announcement of the head of the ANM, after the blizzard weather alert came into force
The measures announced by the authorities
ISU representatives announced, in a joint press conference with representatives of the Police and the Gendarmerie, that the crews were supplemented. Until 9:00 p.m., one hour after the orange blizzard code came into effect, no incidents were reported.
A similar announcement came from the Gendarmerie: “We are ready to intervene for the safety of citizens”, they said.
The police announced that crews have been added to the main arteries and that the “condition of the roadway” is being monitored.
Previously, STB announced, in a statement, that “sufficient stocks of anti-skid materials were secured and 33 plug-brush wagons will be used to clean the tram tracks, and 11 snow removal machines will operate at the level of operating units (bus depots and depots)”.
Border Police: Traffic may be affected
For its part, the Border Police warned that the snow, sleet or blizzard predicted by meteorologists may affect the traffic through the border crossing points and may cause delays, temporary traffic restrictions or travel difficulties.
Severe weather phenomena “may affect traffic in the border area”. The authorities' recommendations for drivers
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Forecasters warn it is “probably the most severe episode this winter”, with heavy snow accumulations and strong gusts of wind reducing visibility below 50 metres.
“It is a severe weather. It is probably the most severe episode of this winter, which we will follow carefully,” said Florinela Georgescu, ANM's forecasting director, in an intervention on Digi24 on Tuesday.
According to the meteorologists, in Muntenia and in the south of Moldova it will snow heavily and a consistent layer of snow will be deposited, with thicknesses of 20…50 cm, that is, up to half a meter of snow.
“The wind will have strong intensifications with gusts of 60…85 km/h (with the highest speeds in the counties of Vrancea, Galați, Buzău, Brăila, Ialomița and Călăraşi). There will be a strong blizzard, the snow will be heavy and the visibility will drop below 50 m,” the weather warning says.
The capital and the counties of Argeș, Teleorman, Dâmbovița, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Prahova, Călăraşi, Ialomița, Brăila, Buzău, Vrancea and Galați are targeted.
The alert is valid until Wednesday, at 12.00.
Weather warning and blizzard code yellow for other areas
In addition to the code orange, forecasters have also issued two code yellow warnings.
The premium came into force on Tuesday at 10.00, and is valid until Wednesday at 12.00.
“In the mentioned interval, in the southeast of Oltenia, the south of Transylvania, Muntenia, Dobrogea and Moldova, there will be quantitatively significant precipitation,” reads the ANM warning.
During the day there will be mixed precipitation (rain, sleet, snow), and at night snow will predominate, meteorologists report.
“Precipitation amounts of 25…30 l/m2 and isolated over 40…45 l/m2 will accumulate. An average of 10…30 cm of snow will be deposited. In the southeast of the local territory, snow will be deposited”, informs ANM.
Also from Tuesday, from 10:00 p.m., until Wednesday, at 12:00 p.m., a yellow blizzard code is also in effect, targeting the Southern Carpathians, most of the Eastern Carpathians and the Banat Mountains. Wind gusts of 70-90 km/h are expected.
Bucharest, under alert weather. What does the forecast look like?
And the Capital is under a code orange warning for heavy snowfall, consistent layer of snow and blizzard until tomorrow at 12:00. In Bucharest, it will snow and a layer of snow will be deposited, generally 20–35 cm thick. Accumulated water quantities will be 25–40 l/m2.
Winds will gust to 50–70 km/h, there will be blizzards and low visibility. The maximum temperature will be 2–3 degrees, and the minimum around -1 degree.
For the interval February 18, 8:00 a.m. – February 19, 10:00 a.m., meteorologists announce that it will continue to snow until lunchtime (5–10 cm), so that the total snow layer will have varying thicknesses, on average, of 25–45 cm. The maximum temperature will be 2–3 degrees, and the minimum between -5 and -3 degrees.
Between February 17, 10:00 a.m. and February 19, 10:00 a.m., the capital is under a weather advisory for cooling the weather. Also, between February 17, 10:00 a.m. and February 18, 12:00 p.m., Bucharest is under a yellow code for quantitatively significant precipitation, hail and wind intensifications.
The recommendation of the authorities: “Stay at home”
In the context of weather warnings for blizzards and heavy snow, the Department of Emergency Situations sent warning messages to the population on Facebook: “Avoid any movement that is not absolutely necessary.”
DSU says the strong wind gusts forecast can quickly blizzard and trot the snow, turning passable roads into impassable roads in just seconds.
The DSU's “main recommendation” is “stay at home”.
DSU recommendations for the population:
- If the trip is URGENT and cannot be postponed:
- Constantly inform yourself about the state of the roads;
- Equip the vehicle appropriately for winter conditions;
- Ensure a high level of fuel;
- Have in the car: shovel, squeegee, blanket, water, food, flashlight;
- Use only main roads;
- Notify neighbors of your route and estimated time of arrival.
“Important warning” of the authorities, for the interval in which Romania is under severe snow and blizzard alerts
How long will the “severe episode of this winter” last
The forecasting director of ANM also said, in the same intervention live on Digi24, that the weather will improve “from tomorrow afternoon”.
“However, it will still be a very changeable, very capricious weather. We expect that after a very short warming episode, on Thursday and maybe Friday, the weekend will again bring cooling and precipitation in all forms,” said Florinela Georgescu.
