Unusually cold weather and rain will likely make way for sun and higher temperatures by the end of the week, when Orthodox and Greco-Catholic Romanians celebrate Easter, according to weather forecasts.

This week starts with bad weather in 20 of Romania’s counties, for which the meteorologists have issued a code yellow of heavy rains, strong wind and even snow in the mountain area.

Rain and snow are expected in the eastern and south-eastern regions of Romania between April 6, 15:00, and April 7, 20:00. The wind is expected to blow with up to 50-60 km per hour in this period.

The rainfall will exceed 25 liters per sqm, and even 50 liters per sqm in Galati, Braila, Tulcea and Constanta counties, according to the National Meteorology Administration ANM.

Snow is also forecasted for Eastern and Southern Carpathians.

The counties targeted by this weather alert are Maramures, Mures, Harghita, Sibiu, Covasna, Brasov, Botosani, Suceava, Bacau, Galati, Neamț, Arges, Dambovița, Prahova, Buzau, Vrancea, Braila, Tulcea, Constanta and Valcea.

The weather will improve, however, in the following days, and temperatures will increase. The maximum diurnal temperatures will likely rise from 4-6 degrees Celsius on Monday to 18-20 degrees Celsius on Sunday and will remain close to this level in the following week.

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