Southern Romania has come under a watch alert for snow and blizzard.
Because of the weather local authorities in Bucharest and five other counties decided to suspend classes yesterday.
Bad weather has Romania in its grip again. Snow started to fall in southern counties yesterday morning at 4 AM. The warning for snow and blizzard was lifted yesterday at 11 AM but Bucharest and 16 counties in southern and southeastern Romania remained under watch alert until 8 PM. Traffic on most roads in the area for which ANM issued the warnings took place in winter conditions but according to Infotrafic traffic was not interrupted on any national roads or highways. Snow clearing vehicles and anti-skidding substances were used on highways in southern Romania however the abundant snow meant that there was always a thin layer of snow on the surface of the road. Heavy traffic was registered on A2 and A3 towards Bucharest. Winter traffic conditions were registered in Bucharest too, the authorities recommending drivers to leave their personal cars home and use public transportation instead, especially since many drivers had already replaced their vehicles’ winter tires with summer tires. According to the reports received at the Internal Affairs Ministry’s Operational Centre, eight localities had no electricity yesterday. The Internal Affairs Ministry used over 50 technical means in the actions it conducted. Classes were suspended yesterday in the pre-university education system in Bucharest and five counties because of the bad weather.
Thus, approximately 80 schools were closed in Buzau County, while schools and kindergartens were closed in Olt County. Classes were suspended yesterday in Arges and Dambovita counties too. Likewise, schools were closed in Danicei commune, Valcea County, after yesterday morning’s heavy snow. Problems caused by the snow were registered at the Otopeni Airport too, some flights experiencing delays of approximately 30 minutes. Car accidents caused by the snow were also registered yesterday. Thus, a woman was injured after a minibus with 17 persons onboard overturned in Buzau. In Arad traffic was difficult yesterday morning on National Road 7 (DN7) after an auto vehicle hit a bridgehead, collided with a minibus and overturned. The driver was seriously injured. In Harghita County the access of heavy vehicles was restricted on DN11B because of the snow, in order to allow snow-clearing vehicles to intervene.
Winter elsewhere too
The Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) issued on Monday a series of travel advisories, pointing out that a warning for snow and blizzard was issued for 4 counties in Hungary for March 25-26, while in Croatia a warning for snow was issued for the Zagreb and Karlovac regions for March 25-27. At the same time, MAE warns the Romanians that plan to travel to Slovenia that traffic restrictions for heavy vehicles are in place on March 25-27, following heavy snows and powerful wind gusts.
