Climate of Romania

Geography of Romania
Topography

Carpathians (peaks)
Plains & Delta
Islands

Hydrography

Rivers (Danube)
Lakes
Black Sea

Climate

The climate of Romania is continental, transitioning into humid subtropical (locally often "warm oceanic" or "Pontic") on the eastern coast, influenced by polar intrusions, and therefore characterized by harsh winters. The mountain ranges of the Carpathian arc have a cool mountain climate with high humidity throughout the year.

Rainfall, although adequate throughout the country, decreases from west to east and from mountains to plains. Some mountainous areas receive more than 1,010 mm (39.8 in) of precipitation each year. Annual precipitation averages about 635 mm (25 in) in central Transylvania, 521 mm (20.5 in) at Iaşi in Moldavia, and only 381 mm (15 in) at Constanţa on the Black Sea.

Romania map of Köppen climate classification, according to Clima României from the Administrația Națională de Meteorologie, Bucharest 2008

Summers in the country are generally very warm to hot, and temperatures over 35 °C (95 °F) are not unknown in the lower-lying areas of the country. Night time lows in Bucharest and other lower-lying areas are around 16 °C (60.8 °F), but at higher altitudes both maxima and minima decline considerably.

Satellite image of Romania in December, showing most of its territory under snow

In the coldest months of winter (December and January) temperatures average between 3˚C and -15˚C. During winter, the skies are often cloudy and snowfall is quite common. In the plains of Romania there are about thirty days with snowfall per year.

Records

The absolute minimum temperature was −38.5 °C (−37.3 °F), registered near Brașov in 1942. The absolute maximum temperature was 44.5 °C (112.1 °F), recorded at Ion Sion, Brăila County in 1951.

Climate data for Romania
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)
28.0
(82.4)
32.8
(91.0)
35.6
(96.1)
40.8
(105.4)
42.0
(107.6)
44.3
(111.7)
44.5
(112.1)
43.5
(110.3)
39.0
(102.2)
30.5
(86.9)
23.4
(74.1)
44.5
(112.1)
Record low °C (°F) −39.0
(−38.2)
−38.0
(−36.4)
−31.4
(−24.5)
−26
(−15)
−16
(3)
−12
(10)
−8.0
(17.6)
−7.0
(19.4)
−15
(5)
−21.3
(−6.3)
−30.8
(−23.4)
−34.5
(−30.1)
−39
(−38)
Source: National Meteorological Administration

Averages and records by city

Climate data for Bucharest (1981–2010, extremes 1929–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.1
(62.8)
24.1
(75.4)
29.0
(84.2)
32.2
(90.0)
36.9
(98.4)
39.0
(102.2)
42.2
(108.0)
41.0
(105.8)
38.5
(101.3)
35.2
(95.4)
25.1
(77.2)
18.4
(65.1)
42.2
(108.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.8
(37.0)
5.5
(41.9)
13.4
(56.1)
20.0
(68.0)
27.0
(80.6)
30.2
(86.4)
32.0
(89.6)
32.0
(89.6)
29.8
(85.6)
23.0
(73.4)
12.8
(55.0)
3.8
(38.8)
17.1
(62.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)
0.4
(32.7)
5.4
(41.7)
11.2
(52.2)
16.8
(62.2)
20.6
(69.1)
22.5
(72.5)
22.0
(71.6)
16.9
(62.4)
11.0
(51.8)
4.7
(40.5)
0.2
(32.4)
10.8
(51.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.8
(23.4)
−4.0
(24.8)
0.1
(32.2)
4.9
(40.8)
9.6
(49.3)
13.6
(56.5)
15.4
(59.7)
14.9
(58.8)
10.5
(50.9)
5.4
(41.7)
0.6
(33.1)
−3.4
(25.9)
5.2
(41.4)
Record low °C (°F) −32.2
(−26.0)
−29.0
(−20.2)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−9.5
(14.9)
−1.1
(30.0)
4.5
(40.1)
7.4
(45.3)
5.2
(41.4)
−3.1
(26.4)
−8.0
(17.6)
−19.4
(−2.9)
−25.6
(−14.1)
−32.2
(−26.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 37
(1.5)
37
(1.5)
44
(1.7)
50
(2.0)
56
(2.2)
83
(3.3)
70
(2.8)
56
(2.2)
64
(2.5)
53
(2.1)
46
(1.8)
48
(1.9)
643
(25.3)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 13.7
(5.4)
11.0
(4.3)
10.5
(4.1)
1.5
(0.6)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
8.8
(3.5)
10.5
(4.1)
56.0
(22.0)
Average rainy days 6 6 9 11 12 11 9 8 8 10 10 9 109
Average snowy days 8 7 5 1 0.03 0 0 0 0 0.3 3 7 31
Average relative humidity (%) 89 83 75 71 69 70 68 68 73 79 85 88 76
Mean monthly sunshine hours 70.6 84.5 138.0 184.8 246.3 265.8 289.2 281.4 224.1 177.4 87.5 62.8 2,112.4
Average ultraviolet index 1 2 3 5 7 8 8 7 5 3 2 1 4
Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net (average temperatures, humidity, precipitation, and snowy days)
Source 2: NOAA (snowfall and sunshine, 1961–1990), Administrația Națională de Meteorologie (extremes) and Weather Atlas
Climate data for Cluj-Napoca (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1901–2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.0
(57.2)
19.3
(66.7)
26.6
(79.9)
30.2
(86.4)
32.5
(90.5)
36.0
(96.8)
37.0
(98.6)
38.0
(100.4)
33.7
(92.7)
32.6
(90.7)
26.0
(78.8)
18.7
(65.7)
38.0
(100.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9)
3.0
(37.4)
10.5
(50.9)
17.8
(64.0)
22.2
(72.0)
24.8
(76.6)
27.9
(82.2)
27.8
(82.0)
20.9
(69.6)
15.2
(59.4)
7.4
(45.3)
1.6
(34.9)
14.2
(57.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.6
(27.3)
−0.9
(30.4)
4.5
(40.1)
10.1
(50.2)
15.1
(59.2)
17.9
(64.2)
19.8
(67.6)
19.5
(67.1)
15.0
(59.0)
9.8
(49.6)
3.5
(38.3)
−1.3
(29.7)
9.2
(48.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7)
−4.8
(23.4)
−0.6
(30.9)
4.3
(39.7)
8.9
(48.0)
12.0
(53.6)
13.7
(56.7)
13.2
(55.8)
9.2
(48.6)
4.4
(39.9)
−0.3
(31.5)
−4.2
(24.4)
4.2
(39.6)
Record low °C (°F) −34.2
(−29.6)
−32.5
(−26.5)
−22.0
(−7.6)
−8.4
(16.9)
−3.5
(25.7)
0.4
(32.7)
5.2
(41.4)
3.5
(38.3)
−3.0
(26.6)
−8.8
(16.2)
−22.3
(−8.1)
−27.9
(−18.2)
−34.2
(−29.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 25.7
(1.01)
24.5
(0.96)
31.0
(1.22)
50.9
(2.00)
66.9
(2.63)
90.5
(3.56)
85.7
(3.37)
65.9
(2.59)
48.5
(1.91)
37.2
(1.46)
32.1
(1.26)
35.5
(1.40)
594.4
(23.40)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 6.0
(2.4)
11.5
(4.5)
5.8
(2.3)
1.3
(0.5)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.5
(0.2)
2.6
(1.0)
5.8
(2.3)
33.5
(13.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 12.9 12.7 11.2 13.3 14.7 14.9 13.2 11.3 11.1 10.0 12.2 14.0 151.5
Average relative humidity (%) 87 82 74 72 74 77 76 76 78 81 86 88 79
Mean monthly sunshine hours 66 99 157 185 241 253 276 263 193 159 88 52 2,030
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization,
Source 2: Romanian National Statistic Institute NOAA (snowfall 1961–1990), Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1973–1993)
Climate data for Timișoara (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)
20.5
(68.9)
28.2
(82.8)
32.0
(89.6)
34.5
(94.1)
38.4
(101.1)
39.6
(103.3)
41.0
(105.8)
39.7
(103.5)
33.8
(92.8)
27.1
(80.8)
22.2
(72.0)
41.0
(105.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)
5.6
(42.1)
11.9
(53.4)
19.6
(67.3)
24.8
(76.6)
27.7
(81.9)
29.8
(85.6)
29.6
(85.3)
24.0
(75.2)
19.1
(66.4)
10.3
(50.5)
4.2
(39.6)
16.5
(61.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)
1.2
(34.2)
5.8
(42.4)
11.2
(52.2)
16.3
(61.3)
19.4
(66.9)
21.1
(70.0)
20.4
(68.7)
16.5
(61.7)
11.0
(51.8)
5.6
(42.1)
0.8
(33.4)
10.6
(51.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.8
(23.4)
−2.3
(27.9)
1.2
(34.2)
5.8
(42.4)
10.1
(50.2)
13.4
(56.1)
14.6
(58.3)
14.3
(57.7)
11.2
(52.2)
6.2
(43.2)
2.1
(35.8)
−1.7
(28.9)
5.8
(42.4)
Record low °C (°F) −35.3
(−31.5)
−29.2
(−20.6)
−20.0
(−4.0)
−5.2
(22.6)
−5.0
(23.0)
2.2
(36.0)
5.9
(42.6)
5.0
(41.0)
−1.9
(28.6)
−6.8
(19.8)
−15.4
(4.3)
−24.8
(−12.6)
−35.3
(−31.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40
(1.6)
36
(1.4)
37
(1.5)
48
(1.9)
65
(2.6)
76
(3.0)
64
(2.5)
50
(2.0)
40
(1.6)
39
(1.5)
48
(1.9)
50
(2.0)
593
(23.3)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 9.8
(3.9)
9.3
(3.7)
4.4
(1.7)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
3.7
(1.5)
7.2
(2.8)
34.4
(13.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7 7 7 8 9 10 7 6 6 5 8 9 89
Average relative humidity (%) 90 86 79 73 73 74 73 75 76 81 85 89 80
Mean monthly sunshine hours 72.1 92.2 155.4 186.4 242.4 262.3 300.6 280.2 217.5 177.3 86.4 56.9 2,129.7
Source 1: NOAA, Deutscher Wetterdienst
Source 2: National Institute of Statistics (extremes, 1901–2000)
Climate data for Iași, Romania (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.7
(62.1)
22.5
(72.5)
27.0
(80.6)
31.8
(89.2)
36.4
(97.5)
38.0
(100.4)
40.1
(104.2)
39.7
(103.5)
38.0
(100.4)
33.9
(93.0)
29.0
(84.2)
19.5
(67.1)
40.1
(104.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)
3.3
(37.9)
11.3
(52.3)
18.7
(65.7)
24.1
(75.4)
30.1
(86.2)
30.1
(86.2)
30.8
(87.4)
25.4
(77.7)
16.1
(61.0)
11.1
(52.0)
2.3
(36.1)
15.4
(59.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.3
(27.9)
−0.9
(30.4)
3.9
(39.0)
10.5
(50.9)
16.7
(62.1)
19.9
(67.8)
21.7
(71.1)
20.9
(69.6)
15.9
(60.6)
10.2
(50.4)
4.0
(39.2)
−0.9
(30.4)
10.0
(50.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.2
(22.6)
−4.2
(24.4)
−0.1
(31.8)
5.4
(41.7)
10.6
(51.1)
14.2
(57.6)
15.9
(60.6)
15.2
(59.4)
10.8
(51.4)
5.9
(42.6)
0.9
(33.6)
−3.7
(25.3)
5.5
(41.9)
Record low °C (°F) −30.6
(−23.1)
−36.3
(−33.3)
−22.7
(−8.9)
−9.4
(15.1)
−3.0
(26.6)
3.5
(38.3)
6.3
(43.3)
4.6
(40.3)
−3.5
(25.7)
−9.6
(14.7)
−21.1
(−6.0)
−29.5
(−21.1)
−36.3
(−33.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 27.9
(1.10)
25.9
(1.02)
30.8
(1.21)
46.1
(1.81)
55.2
(2.17)
88.2
(3.47)
74.9
(2.95)
54.9
(2.16)
54.9
(2.16)
37.0
(1.46)
34.3
(1.35)
31.6
(1.24)
561.7
(22.11)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 11.3
(4.4)
14.3
(5.6)
11.9
(4.7)
6.9
(2.7)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.7
(0.3)
10.4
(4.1)
6.3
(2.5)
61.8
(24.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 12.6 11.2 11.6 11.4 12.1 12.3 11.0 8.5 8.7 8.1 10.1 12.6 130.2
Average relative humidity (%) 82 80 71 62 61 62 60 63 66 73 79 83 70
Mean monthly sunshine hours 67 91 136 180 256 260 288 275 200 153 79 61 2,046
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization, Ogimet (mean temperatures and sun 1981–2010)
Source 2: Romanian National Statistic Institute (extremes 1901–2000), NOAA (sunshine and snowfall 1961–1990), Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes, 1896–2015 and humidity, 1896–1960)
Climate data for Constanța (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)
24.5
(76.1)
30.8
(87.4)
31.9
(89.4)
36.9
(98.4)
36.9
(98.4)
38.5
(101.3)
36.8
(98.2)
34.8
(94.6)
32.0
(89.6)
26.5
(79.7)
21.0
(69.8)
38.5
(101.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
5.7
(42.3)
9.3
(48.7)
17.1
(62.8)
24.0
(75.2)
28.7
(83.7)
29.2
(84.6)
29.1
(84.4)
25.7
(78.3)
21.4
(70.5)
13.3
(55.9)
6.2
(43.2)
15.9
(60.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.3
(34.3)
2.0
(35.6)
5.5
(41.9)
10.3
(50.5)
16.1
(61.0)
20.7
(69.3)
23.2
(73.8)
23.0
(73.4)
18.6
(65.5)
13.5
(56.3)
7.7
(45.9)
3.0
(37.4)
12.1
(53.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.4
(29.5)
−0.7
(30.7)
2.7
(36.9)
7.3
(45.1)
12.5
(54.5)
16.9
(62.4)
19.1
(66.4)
19.0
(66.2)
14.9
(58.8)
10.3
(50.5)
4.9
(40.8)
0.3
(32.5)
8.8
(47.8)
Record low °C (°F) −24.7
(−12.5)
−25.0
(−13.0)
−12.8
(9.0)
−4.5
(23.9)
1.8
(35.2)
6.4
(43.5)
7.6
(45.7)
8.0
(46.4)
1.0
(33.8)
−12.4
(9.7)
−11.7
(10.9)
−18.6
(−1.5)
−25.0
(−13.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 27.6
(1.09)
24.0
(0.94)
34.0
(1.34)
31.8
(1.25)
37.9
(1.49)
40.4
(1.59)
37.5
(1.48)
35.2
(1.39)
42.1
(1.66)
36.8
(1.45)
45.6
(1.80)
37.0
(1.46)
429.9
(16.93)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 7.0
(2.8)
7.0
(2.8)
4.2
(1.7)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
5.5
(2.2)
3.4
(1.3)
27.1
(10.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 9.9 8.5 9.2 8.2 9.1 8.2 7.0 4.6 6.1 7.1 9.0 10.5 97.4
Average relative humidity (%) 86 85 85 83 81 78 76 77 79 82 86 88 82
Mean monthly sunshine hours 87 110 140 192 272 282 327 308 230 168 102 83 2,301
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization, Ogimet (mean temperatures and sun 1981–2010)
Source 2: Romanian National Statistic Institute (extremes 1901–2000), NOAA (snowfall 1961–1990), Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1973–1993)
Climate data for Oradea
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15
(59)
18
(64)
24
(75)
29
(84)
32
(90)
37
(99)
38
(100)
39
(102)
35
(95)
28
(82)
21
(70)
16
(61)
42
(108)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.4
(34.5)
4.7
(40.5)
10.7
(51.3)
17.9
(64.2)
23.1
(73.6)
26.9
(80.4)
29.1
(84.4)
28.8
(83.8)
26.0
(78.8)
19.1
(66.4)
10.3
(50.5)
3.4
(38.1)
16.8
(62.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.2
(22.6)
−2.7
(27.1)
1.0
(33.8)
5.5
(41.9)
10.1
(50.2)
12.9
(55.2)
14.2
(57.6)
13.9
(57.0)
10.8
(51.4)
5.9
(42.6)
1.9
(35.4)
−2.4
(27.7)
5.5
(41.9)
Record low °C (°F) −27
(−17)
−27
(−17)
−24
(−11)
−8
(18)
0
(32)
7
(45)
7
(45)
7
(45)
0
(32)
−10
(14)
−28
(−18)
−28
(−18)
−28
(−18)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 39.5
(1.56)
30.3
(1.19)
36.5
(1.44)
44.9
(1.77)
63.4
(2.50)
90.5
(3.56)
69.1
(2.72)
55.2
(2.17)
39.9
(1.57)
37.9
(1.49)
46.6
(1.83)
49.4
(1.94)
603.2
(23.74)
Average snowy days 8 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 28
Source 1: Administrația Natională de Meteorologie
Source 2: MSN Weather (for extreme and snowy days)

See also


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