The Code Orange for snow and blizzards has recently been extended until Wednesday ( February 8 ), 22:00, for Calarasi, Ialomita, Constanta, Tulcea, Braila, Buzau, Galati and Vrancea counties in Romania, according to meteorologists. For Bucharest and Giurgiu, Teleorman, Arges, Dambovita, Prahova and Ilfov counties, the code is issued until February 8, 10:00. During this period wind speeds of 70 to 80 km per hour are expected, mostly in Dobrogea, Muntenia and southern Moldova.

The meteorologists also issued a Code Yellow for ice for the entire country, from Wednesday ( February 8 ) until Sunday ( February 12 ). The minimum temperatures in this period will generally be between minus 25 and minus 15 °C, while during the day the temperatures will remain below freezing.

The bad weather hit Romania more than a week ago, when it started snowing heavily and temperatures reached dropped to record lows. Villages in several counties in the country, such as Buzau, Vrancea, Galati and Braila are isolated and under power outages.

A total of 48 national roads and highways are currently closed and 16 roads have traffic restrictions. Moreover, 184 trains are canceled, and three ports are closed, namely Midia, Mangalia and Constanta, reads a statement of the Romanian Ministry of Transport. At time of writing, all airports are reported open.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Photoxpress.com)