Southern Romania Weather Advisory Upgraded To Code Orange

On Friday, weather authorities issued a yellow code advisory forecasting snow and gusty wind throughout the southern half of the country Saturday through Monday morning.

The advisory was upgraded Saturday to the code orange alert targeting Bucharest and southeastern counties of Gorj, Mehedinti, Dolj, Olt, Valcea, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Calarasi, Ilfov, Ialomita, Buzau, Braila and Galati.

Meteorologists expect mixed precipitation causing icy roads, followed by heavy snowfall and blizzards with winds reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour and even exceeding 100 kilometers per hour in mountain areas.

Fifty-five people died of severe hypothermia in the second half of January when a cold Siberian front swept Europe and temperatures in the country went as low as minus 34 degrees Celsius.