Climate of Romania

The climate of Romania is continental transitioning into an oceanic climate on the eastern coast, influenced by Scandinavian-Baltic weather, characterized by harsh winters and stronger rainfalls in the cooler months. In the south-east, the Black Sea induces rare heavy strong rains.
In eastern regions the continental character is less pronounced. In the north of the country (Maramureș and Bukovina), the effect of the Scandinavian-Baltic climate is felt, effecting a wetter and colder climate with cold winters. The west of the country has a more pronounced influence of low pressure systems generated over the Atlantic, causing moderate temperatures and stronger precipitation.
Climate nuances are demonstrated on the steps of the altitude, the mountain ranges of the Carpathian arc have a cool mountain climate with high humidity throughout the year.

The average annual temperature is in the south and middle-south and in northeast. In Bucharest, the temperature ranges from an average low of in January to an average high of in July and August, with average temperatures of in January and in July and August. Rainfall, although adequate throughout the country, decreases from west to east and from mountains to plains. Some mountainous areas receive more than of precipitation each year. Annual precipitation averages about in central Transylvania, at Iaşi in Moldavia, and only at Constanţa on the Black Sea.

Owing to its distance from the open ocean, Romania has a continental climate. Summers are generally very warm to hot, with average highs in Bucharest being around , with temperatures over not unknown in the lower-lying areas of the country. Night time lows in Bucharest and other lower-lying areas are around , but at higher altitudes both maxima and minima decline considerably.

In the coldest months of winter (December and January) temperatures average between 3˚C and -15˚C. During winter, the skies are often cloudy and snowfall is quite common. In the plains of Romania there are about thirty days with snowfall per year. Winters are quite cold, with average highs even in lower-lying areas being no more than and below in the highest mountains.

Precipitation is generally modest, averaging over only on the highest west-facing mountain slopes – much of it falling as snow which allows for an extensive skiing industry. In the Danube delta, rainfall is very low, averaging only around per year, whilst further west along the southern plains around Bucharest it amounts to around .

Records

The absolute minimum temperature was , registered near Brașov in 1942. The absolute maximum temperature was , recorded at Ion Sion, Brăila County in 1951.

Averages and records by city

See also

* Climate

References

{{Europe topic, Climate of

Geography of Romania
Romania