Monday to Tuesday will be the most freezing night this winter, in Romania, with temperatures reaching even minus 30 degrees Celsius in depressions, while in Bucharest there will be minus 23 degrees Celsius, National Weather Administration (ANM) meteorologist on duty Mihai Hustiu told AGERPRES on Monday.
“Tonight there will be registered the lowest temperatures since the beginning of this winter in Romania. On a national level, there will be minus 29 degrees, even minus 30 degrees Celsius in depressions, in the east of Transylvania, and in the Capital thermometers will go down to minus 23 degrees Celsius. Moreover, in the rest of the territory, the temperatures will reach minus 20 degrees Celsius on average. The most protected areas from these extreme temperatures are in the west of the country, where a Code Yellow advisory for freezing cold is in force. In fact, we are speaking of temperatures much under the regular level for this period, even 10 – 15 degrees Celsius lower,” Hustiu mentioned.
The National Weather Administration (ANM) issued on Monday a Code Orange for freezing cold, valid in 37 counties, the Municipality of Bucharest included, as well as a Code Yellow warning of extremely low temperatures in five counties, valid on the days of 9 and 10 January.
According to meteorologists, both Monday and Tuesday, the Code Orange will be in force in Oltenia, Muntenia, Dobrogea, Moldavia, Transylvania and Maramures, where the frost will intensify, with lows ranging between minus 29 and minus 15 degrees and highs between minus 15 and minus 10.
Moreover, the Code Yellow warning for extreme cold will be valid on 9 and 10 January in Crisana and Banat. In these areas, the weather will be freezing cold mostly at night and in the morning, when the temperatures will frequently drop under minus 15 degrees.
In the coming period, ANM will issue new messages on the developments and intensity of the dangerous weather phenomena.
Classes to be suspended Tuesday in Bucharest and 21 counties
Classes will be suspended on Tuesday in the pre-university education units in Bucharest and 21 counties, according to a centralisation of the National Education Ministry (MEN) at 17:00.
According to MEN, no classes are to take place on Tuesday in Arges, Brasov, Prahova, Tulcea, Teleorman, Bacau, Braila, Olt, Iasi, Neamt, Timis, Galati, Maramures, Dolj, Suceava, Botosani, Buzau, Ialomita, llfov, Constanta, Vrancea and the Municipality of Bucharest.
Classes will be suspended only in some education units in Mehedinti, Calarasi, Dambovita, Cluj, Mures, Sibiu, Alba and Hunedoara.
Moreover, classes will be suspended in some education units in Sibiu and Alba.
Capital Mayor: Classes to resume Monday, 16 January
Capital General Mayor Gabriela Firea announced that pupils’ classes will resume in Bucharest on Monday, 16 January.
According to her, kindergartens and day nurseries will also open again on the same day.
EnergyMin: We have capacities to overcome the peak of the national consumption of electricity and gas
National consumption of electricity and gas will reach record values on Monday and Tuesday, but the necessary capacities in order to overcome this peak exist, Energy Minister Toma Petcu said at the end of the winter command meeting.
According to him, in regards to electricity, the consumption will exceed 9,500 MW, and in respect to gas, the consumption will reach 76 cubic meters per day.
“We started analyzing the balancing of the energy system during the freezing cold period. We have a Code Orange for frost in 35 counties, plus Bucharest. We have severe weather and considering very law temperatures consumption is increasing, especially for gas, both for the domestic consumers, as well as for the electricity and thermal energy producers. We need additional gas quantities. The electricity consumption is also increasing very much,” the Energy Minister stated.
He mentioned that the representatives of the National Energy System are estimating a natural gas consumption of 72 – 74 cubic meters, “a historic consumption”, taking into account that so far the maximum was of 71.2 cubic meters.
“We have prepared and took all the necessary decisions in order to do this thing. We have approximately 26 million cubic meters from reserves, 28 million cubic meters from the daily production and 16 million cubic meters which suppliers assumed to import. Currently, we have the estimated necessary in order to overcome this peak. It was decided Elcen, CET Brazi and CET Galati to switch to crude oil. Yesterday (Sunday – e.n.) and last night the switch took place. Elcen is currently operating on crude oil,” Toma Petcu added.
He underlined that additional groups for enhancing the electric energy production were started, in the context in which a maximum of 9,500 MW are estimated.
The Energy Minister also signaled that on Sunday evening Bulgaria has requested an emergency aid on energy supply, because of a system problem.
“Taking into account the delicate situation in which Romania might find itself, we didn’t assume this thing and told them we cannot help,” Petcu stated.
