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Climate in Romania


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Romania

Map - Romania

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Romania, an Eastern European country, has generally a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers.
The Black Sea coast has a slightly milder climate, but not by much, since it often receives air masses coming from inland.
In the long Carpathian range, which crosses the country with a semicircular shape, the weather becomes colder and wetter with increasing altitude: in winter, snowfalls are frequent, while in summer, thunderstorms occur in the afternoon.

Precipitation (rain or snow) is not abundant, although it is well distributed over the seasons, with a maximum in May and June, mainly because of afternoon thunderstorms.
In the lowlands, precipitation amounts to 600/650 millimeters (23.5/25.5 inches) per year in most of Romania, although in the eastern part of Banat (the region near the border with Serbia and Hungary), it exceeds 700 mm (27.5 in) per year at the foot of the Carpathians.
The least rainy area is the eastern one. Precipitation is lower than 600 mm (23.5 in) per year in the Moldovan lowland and lower than 500 mm (20 in) on the Black Sea coast (see Constanta), and even drops below 300 mm (12 in) per year in the Danube delta area, near the border with Ukraine.

In Romania, there is not much sun in winter, while in summer, the sun shines quite often. On average, there are 1,900/2,000 hours of sunshine per year in the north and in the valleys of Transylvania, 2,100/2,200 hours in the southern plain, and 2,300/2,400 hours on the coast.

The climate in detail


  • The seasons
  • Wallachia - Bucharest
  • Transylvania - Cluj-Napoca
  • Carpathian Mountains - Miercurea, Ceahlau, Omu
  • The coast - Constanta
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The seasons



Winter, from December to February, is cold throughout Romania. Cold air stagnates in the lowest layers of the atmosphere, and the sky is often cloudy. Snowfall is quite common, but not abundant; in inland plains, there are about thirty days with snowfall per year. In Bucharest, the ground is often covered with snow.
During winter, temperatures are fairly uniform across the continental region, and decrease mainly with increasing altitude. In the main cities located around sea level (Bucharest, Timisoara, Iasi, Craiova, Galati etc.), the average daily temperature in January hovers between 0 °C (32 °F) and -2 °C (28.5 °F). In Bucharest, the average is -1 °C (30 °F).
On the Transylvanian Plateau, west of the Carpathians, winter is slightly colder: in Cluj-Napoca, Bistrita and Sibiu, located at 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, the average in January is -2/-2.5 °C (27/28 °F).
During winter, the mildest lowland area of Romania is Dobrudja, the stretch of plain between the Danube and the Black Sea. On the coast (see Constanta), the average temperature in January is just above freezing, around 1.5 °C (35 °F).
Romania, like other parts of the Balkan Peninsula, is exposed to outbreaks of cold air masses from northern Europe or Russia, most likely from late November to mid-March.
They can lower the temperatures to -15 °C (5 °F) or below on the coast and to -25 °C (-4 °F) or below in inland areas, however, they used to be more frequent in the past decades, when the climate was colder. The coldest area is Transylvania, the region surrounded by the Carpathians. Romania's coldest record is -38.5 degrees Celsius (-37.5 °F), recorded in Bod, Brasov County, in January 1942, an in Miercurea Ciuc in January 1985.

Bucharest in autumn

The summer, from June to August, is hot, especially in the plains and inland areas.
Summer is warm in the north, in the plains and hills of Transylvania and in the region east of the Carpathians, on the border with Moldova: in Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu, around 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, highs are around 27 °C (80.5 °F), while in Iasi, near the border with Moldova, they are around 29 °C (88 °F).
South of the Carpathians, the region of Wallachia, where Bucharest is located, is warmer, and it's often hot: here, the maximum temperatures in July and August are 30/31 °C (86/88 °F) on average.
Along coast of the Black Sea, the weather in summer is nice and pleasantly warm, sometimes even hot, but tempered by the breeze.
Summer is a fairly rainy season, mainly because of afternoon thunderstorms, which occur especially in May and July, and are most frequent and abundant in the mountains. Sometimes, these thunderstorms are so strong that they can cause floods.
The amount of sunshine in summer is good in the lowlands, while cloud cover is more frequent in the mountains and in Transylvania, where, however, the sun often shines, especially in the morning.
In summer, Romania can be affected by heat waves of African origin. The areas most affected are the inland plains, while Transylvania and the coast are less intensely affected. In these cases, the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F) on the coast and 40 °C (104 °F) in the inland plains. In the southern cities (see Bucharest, Craiova, Rosiorii de Vede, Calarasi), the temperature reached 42/42.5 °C (107.5/108.5 °F) in July 2000 and July 2007.

Wallachia



Wallachia, the southern lowland area (see Craiova, Bucharest), has a continental climate: winter is still cold, while summer is warmer than in the rest of Romania.

Bucharest

Climate chart - Bucharest
In the capital, Bucharest, winter is cold and gray, with snowfalls and frosts. During cold spells, the temperature can drop to around -15 °C (5 °F). Summer is hot and sunny, though thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon. On hot days, the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 645 mm (25.5 in) per year. The wettest period is from May to August because of afternoon thunderstorms.

Transylvania



Climate chart - Cluj Napoca
In the Transylvanian Plateau, west of the Carpathians (see Bistrita, Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu), winter is very cold, with January averages around -2 °C (28.5 °F), while summer is a little cooler because of the altitude, with July and August averages around 20 °C (68 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 620/650 mm (24/26 in) per year. Here too, the wettest period is from May to August because of afternoon thunderstorms. In winter, precipitation is weak but quite frequent, and often occurs in the form of snow.

Cluj-Napoca

Carpathian Mountains



In the mountains, the climate becomes colder, but also more humid with increasing altitude.
In the valleys located between the mountains, thermal inversion often occurs, so it is very cold at night.
Climate chart - Miercurea
In Miercurea Ciuc, located at 660 meters (2,200 feet), in Harghita County, the average temperature ranges from -6 °C (21 F) in January to 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in July.
Precipitation amounts to 595 mm (23.5 in) per year, as usual, with a summer maximum due to thunderstorms.

At the Bran Castle, which according to legend would be Dracula's castle, located at 750 meters (2,450 ft) above sea level, winters are cold and snowy, while summers are pleasant, with highs around 23 °C (73 °F) and cool nights, but also possible thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Bran Castle

A similar climate is found in the Poenari Castle, located at 820 meters (2,700 feet) of altitude, which should be the real Dracula's Castle, aka Prince Vlad III of Wallachia.
The Bucovina Monasteries are located at the foot of the Carpathians, in Romanian Moldavia, in the north-east of the country: during the day, it can get hot in July and August, while nights remain cool. The monasteries are located between 300 and 650 meters (1,000 and 2,100 feet) above sea level: the highest is the monastery of Moldovita, which is located at 630 meters (2,065 feet), the lowest is the monastery of Probota, which is located at 290 meters (950 feet). The others (Putna, Humor, Sucevita, Voronet, Dragomirna, Arbore) are located at intermediate altitudes.

In the Ceahlau Massif, located in the Eastern Carpathians, at 1,900 meters (6,200 ft), the average temperature ranges from -7.5 °C (18.5 °F) in February to 12 °C (53 °F) in August.

At higher altitudes, the temperatures are even lower, and it is cold even in summer. In Mount Omu, 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), the highest peak of the Bucegi Mountains, near the towns of Busteni and Sinaia, the average temperature ranges from -10 °C (14 °F) in January and February to 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in August. Precipitation reaches 1,000 mm (40 inches) per year, with a maximum of 150 mm (6 in) in June.

A similar altitude is also reached further to the west, in the Fagaras Mountains, where the highest mountain in Romania is found, that is, Mount Moldoveanu, 2,544 meters (8,346 ft) high.

The coast



On the Black Sea Coast, the climate is slightly milder than in inland areas. However, the winter is still cold, while the summer is warm and sunny, sometimes hot, although tempered by the breeze.
In winter, a cold wind can blow, and it can snow and freeze. On colder winters, the Black Sea along the coast can even freeze, as happened in February 2012. So, winter along the coast of the Black Sea, albeit milder than in the interior, is still cold.

Constanta

Climate chart - Constanta
In Constanta, the largest city of the coast, the average temperature ranges from 1.5 °C (35 °F) in January to 24 °C (75 °F) in July.
As mentioned, the Black Sea coast is the driest of the country, also because the summer thunderstorms are less frequent. In Constanta, precipitation amounts to 25 to 45 mm (1 to 1.8 in) per month throughout the year.
The temperature of the Black Sea is acceptable for swimming in summer: it's around 23 °C (73 °F) in July and 24 °C (75 °F) in August, while it is a bit cool in June and September.

Constanta Casino

When to go



The best time to visit Romania is from May to September.
June is the rainiest month because of afternoon thunderstorms.
In July and August, it can get hot in inland plains, especially in the south, ie in Wallachia (see Bucharest), so you can choose May, June and September, especially if you don't like the heat.
In May, the country is in bloom, and the temperature is generally pleasant, even though afternoon thunderstorms are already possible.
September is usually a pleasant and quiet month, with little rain; sometimes, warm and sunny weather lasts until October.
The Black Sea Coast is good for a beach holiday in summer, but in winter, since it has an average temperature close to freezing and can sometimes experience wind and snowfall, it's certainly not a refuge from the cold European winter.

What to pack



In winter: bring warm clothes, such as a sweater or fleece, a down jacket, a hat, gloves and a scarf, and a raincoat or umbrella.

In summer: bring light clothes, t-shirts and shorts, but also long pants, a light jacket and a sweatshirt for the evening; an umbrella. Some heavier clothes for the mountains.

Climate data - Romania


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Arad
Arad, location on the map
Arad, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-216101416161162-2
Max temp.361218232729302418114
Precip.353535506080705555504545
Prec. days777889867678
Humidity89%83%71%67%69%68%65%64%70%77%84%90%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours3348891197642

Bacau
Bacau, location on the map
Bacau, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-6-405101415151051-4
Max temp.24101723272928231693
Precip.25253550701001005050503530
Prec. days6678910976667
Humidity86%82%73%68%68%70%70%69%71%79%85%87%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours2356881096431

Baia Mare (250 meters)
Baia Mare, location on the map
Baia Mare, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-4-316101415151162-2
Max temp.251117222527282216104
Precip.604540557085705570506080
Prec. days9878897676810
Humidity88%82%70%65%69%70%70%68%74%79%84%88%
Day length910121415161614121198
Sun hours245689997632

Bistrita (400 meters)
Bistrita, location on the map
Bistrita, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-6-5-148121414950-4
Max temp.14101621252727221692
Precip.453035507580756550404050
Prec. days866999877578
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours245688997632

Botosani
Botosani, location on the map
Botosani, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-405101416151061-4
Max temp.24101723262828221683
Precip.202535556080956050453025
Prec. days556799966656
Day length910121415161614121198
Sun hours2357891097532

Bucharest
Bucharest, location on the map
Bucharest, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-405101416151162-3
Max temp.361218242830302518114
Precip.403545506580705065604545
Prec. days666688755666
Humidity87%80%70%65%66%65%61%60%65%77%84%88%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours234689997632

Calarasi
Calarasi, location on the map
Calarasi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-4-226111617171273-2
Max temp.471219252931312619125
Precip.402540405065554555504545
Prec. days756777645567
Humidity86%85%79%68%66%67%67%66%69%75%84%87%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours334681010108632

Caransebes (200 meters)
Caransebes, location on the map
Caransebes, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-226101415151173-1
Max temp.471218232628292318115
Precip.4540507085100857570605050
Prec. days98891110978788
Humidity84%78%69%66%72%72%70%69%74%76%79%84%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours333677986542

Ceahlau (1,900 meters)
Ceahlau, location on the map
Ceahlau, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-10-10-8-3268840-4-8
Max temp.-5-5-24101315151061-3
Precip.25303545701001059045302530
Prec. days78910131313118667
Sun hours333567876532

Cluj Napoca (350 meters)
Cluj Napoca, location on the map
Cluj Napoca, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-40591314141051-4
Max temp.14101621252727221682
Precip.252535507090906555453535
Prec. days677910111078777
Humidity87%81%69%65%69%70%69%68%72%77%84%88%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours245688986532

Constanta
Constanta, location on the map
Constanta, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-103813182020161161
Max temp.561015212528282318126
Precip.352540354545454045454540
Prec. days656565434566
Humidity85%84%83%80%79%75%74%75%77%80%84%86%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours34569911108533
Sea temp76710152124252218139

Craiova
Craiova, location on the map
Craiova, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-4-227121517171273-2
Max temp.361218242830302518104
Precip.453545507070755055555050
Prec. days667797656667
Humidity86%79%68%65%67%66%62%61%65%76%84%89%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours34578910107532

Galati
Galati, location on the map
Galati, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-4-227121618181383-2
Max temp.251118242830302417104
Precip.352535405065603545554040
Prec. days555677645456
Humidity87%85%79%72%70%70%68%69%73%77%85%88%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours2346891098632

Iasi
Iasi, location on the map
Iasi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-406111516161162-3
Max temp.14101823272929231693
Precip.302535455575755050453530
Prec. days656788866656
Humidity86%81%70%63%64%66%65%64%68%76%83%87%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours3346791087522

Miercurea (660 meters)
Miercurea, location on the map
Miercurea, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-11-10-505810950-4-9
Max temp.-1281520232526201570
Precip.252035457095857050403035
Prec. days556811121097656
Humidity87%85%81%76%76%77%78%79%80%82%87%88%
Day length910121415161514121199
Sun hours235678986431

Omu (2,500 meters)
Omu, location on the map
Omu, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-12-13-11-6-12451-3-6-11
Max temp.-7-7-5-148101063-1-6

Oradea
Oradea, location on the map
Oradea, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-316101415151162-2
Max temp.361118232628292317114

Sibiu (400 meters)
Sibiu, location on the map
Sibiu, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-7-5-149121414940-5
Max temp.261117212527272217103
Precip.2525355575951007055453530
Prec. days657911101087656
Humidity86%79%70%66%71%71%70%70%73%77%81%86%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours234578886532

Sulina
Sulina, location on the map
Sulina, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-103914192121161261
Max temp.44813192427262216106
Precip.151020152030202520252520
Prec. days434444323344
Humidity89%87%85%80%78%76%75%75%78%81%87%88%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours3458101111117532
Sea temp7669152024242117139

Timisoara
Timisoara, location on the map
Timisoara, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-4-316101415151162-2
Max temp.461218232729302418115
Precip.353035506085605550404550
Prec. days7678810767579
Humidity89%83%71%67%69%69%65%64%70%77%85%90%
Day length9101214151615141211109
Sun hours2356891097632

Tulcea
Tulcea, location on the map
Tulcea, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-216121618171273-2
Max temp.461117232730302418115
Precip.352535354560603545454040
Prec. days556666544556



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Arad
 Bacau
 Baia Mare
 Bistrita
 Botosani
 Bucharest
 Calarasi
 Caransebes
 Cluj Napoca
 Others (expand)
 Constanta
 Craiova
 Galati
 Iasi
 Miercurea
 Sibiu
 Sulina
 Timisoara

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