Romania, under Storms and Scorching Heat

In the southern city of Giurgiu, on the Danube, temperatures rose on Sunday above 42 degrees Celsius, making this the hottest day in Romania this year.

In Bucharest, the daily high was 40 degrees Celsius, while the heat-humidity index rose above the critical threshold value 80.

Looking at the country’s weather history, the highest temperature ever recorded was 44.5 degrees Celsius, on August 5th 1951 in the southeastern county of Braila.

The all-time lowest temperature recorded in Romania was minus 38.5 degrees Celsius in Brasov County, on January 25th 1942.

The heat is even more unbearable in towns and cities, where the hot pavement adds several degrees to the air temperature.

Looking for comfort, a record number of tourists flocked to the Romanian seaside resorts last weekend, according to figures published by hotel owners.

120,000 seaside tourists were counted this past weekend, making it the most crowded period this season.

The heat wave has also caused road traffic disruptions on national roads, train delays caused by dilated tracks and destroyed crops.

Meteorologists warn that the weather will become more and more unstable in most regions, resulting in strong winds, frequent electrical phenomena and even hailstorms, over smaller areas.

In the central part of the country, several trains were halted by fallen trees, and several towns and villages were affected by power blackouts.

In Bacau, buildings and parked cars were damaged by a storm, while in Alba County, a child was killed by lightning. Extreme weather phenomena have also taken place in other European countries.

In neighboring Bulgaria, temperatures rose above 40 degrees Celsius and record highs were experienced in 30 towns and villages. Bulgarian meteorologists issued, for the first time, a code red alert in three regions.

After several weeks of extreme heat, Italy is now dealing with vegetation fires in the south, center, Sicily and Sardinia.

On the island of Sardinia, 500 people were evacuated from their homes.

In Poland, one person has died and 10 others were injured by storms that even formed tornadoes in the north and west.

Today in the News from Radio Romania International