Heavy snow, strong winds, and blizzard conditions disrupt transport and power in Bucharest, Romania

Storm sweeps across southern and eastern Romania

A severe winter storm pushed across southern and eastern Romania on Saturday, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and icy conditions. The storm slowed daily life across wide areas of the country. Snow thickened on roads. Wind drove curtains of white across open fields. Visibility dropped.

Emergency teams worked across 16 localities in seven counties and in Bucharest, Romania, responding to calls for help. Around 75 people were stranded in 46 vehicles as drifting snow and ice trapped cars on restricted national roads. Rail traffic remained mostly unaffected. No highways were closed. The storm still pressed on.

Power outages and airport disruptions

Power lines sagged under ice and wind. Outages were reported in 12 localities across five counties, affecting about 1,222 consumers. Homes went dark. Streets dimmed.

In Constanța, Romania, one runway at Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport was closed until 4:00 p.m. due to icy conditions. Aircraft movements were limited as crews worked to clear frozen surfaces.

Maritime traffic resumed at Constanta North and South ports. Ship maneuvers remained suspended at Mangalia and Midia. Operations at Sulina Bara in Tulcea County stayed halted as winds and waves kept conditions unsafe.

Code Yellow warnings and blizzard conditions

Romania National Meteorological Administration issued a Code Yellow warning for strong winds, heavy precipitation, and blizzard conditions affecting 16 counties and Bucharest through Sunday morning.

Forecasters said wind gusts of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour, locally reaching 65 to 70 kilometers per hour, would sweep southern Moldova, Muntenia, the Curvature Carpathians, southeastern Oltenia, and Dobrogea.

Precipitation began as a mix of rain and snow. Surfaces glazed over. Black ice formed on untreated roads. Snow followed. Accumulations of 15 to 20 centimeters were expected, with localized precipitation totals of 15 to 30 liters per square meter. During blizzard bursts, visibility could fall below 100 meters.

Residents push through snow and wind

At North Railway Station in Bucharest, Romania, commuters moved across platforms as snow drifted sideways in the wind. Boots crunched on packed snow. Breath rose in pale clouds. Trains continued to run. The storm lingered over the city.

Emergency crews stayed in motion across the south and east, guiding stranded drivers, restoring power where possible, and monitoring ports and airports as snow and wind continued to bear down.