Romania is one of the European countries bordering the Black Sea. It seats on a 238,397 square kilometers mass of land and shares a border with Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Moldova to the east, and Serbia to the southwest. This country has a large population of approximately 19.24 million people, predominantly made up of adults (24-54 years). It has Bucharest as its capital city.
Romania experiences a temperate-continental climate that is distinctive of central Europe. It experiences the four climatic seasons where summers are hot, and winters are characterized by cloudy skies and low temperatures ranging from 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius). The country has an elevation of 8,346 feet (2,544 meters) above sea levels, the highest point is the Moldoveanu peak (2,544 meters), and its lowest point is at 0 meters in the Black Sea. Romania experiences snow in winter.
When is there snowfall in Romania?
During winter, most days in Romania are spent behind closed doors as the days are short and the nights long, and the weather is unbearable outside. It snows or rains most of the time, and the sun does not shine as brighter or warmly as during other seasons—the plains of Romania experience about 30 snowfall days per year.
Romania’s temperatures drop with an increase in altitude, and therefore the number of snowfall days is higher in the highlands. The country’s mountain peaks are capped in the snow all year round.
Generally, Romanian winters are chilly, but some days, such as January 19th, are colder as temperatures may fall to 210 Fahrenheit (-6.1 degrees Celsius).
Here is a breakdown of the winter months that Romania experiences snowfall.
Snow in December
December is the first month of winter in Romania. Temperatures in this month average 27.30 Fahrenheit (-2.6 degrees Celsius). There is usually a bit of rainfall, with rain averaging 1.69 inches (43 millimeters). On average, the snow accumulates to a depth of 4.13 inches (105 millimeters) during this month.
Snow in January
The temperatures get colder as winter progresses. The average temperature drops to a teeth-chattering low of 22.1 degrees Fahrenheit (-5.5 degrees Celsius). January snows the most, with 5.39 inches (137 millimeters) of snow are accumulated. Rainfall amounts reduce as it gets colder because a drop in temperature squeezes out water in the atmosphere to form ice instead of rain. So as temperature decreases, more ice is formed.
Total precipitation in January (rainfall + snow) averages 1.57 inches (40 millimeters) in Bucharest despite the rain falling for only six days. January sees sunshine for an average of 2.3 hours a day.
Snow in February
February is the last month of winter in Romania. As winter draws to an end, temperatures pick from those experienced in January. The temperature averages 39.4 degrees Fahrenheit (4.1 degrees Celsius) and tips to 26.10 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.3 degrees Celsius) on the low end. The amount of snowfall accumulated reduces to 4.33 inches (110 millimeters). Sunshine hours increase to 3 hours per day.
Where is there Snowfall in Romania?
Romanian cities in high altitude areas receive more snowfall than those in low-lying areas. This section will look into Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timisoara, the three snowiest areas in the country.
Snow in Bucharest
The capital of Romania experiences a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. It is a low-lying city as it sits at an altitude of 85 meters. It snows in Bucharest for several days in winter, and there is an average of 22.05 inches (560 millimeters) of accumulated snow during this period.
Snow in Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca is located in northwestern Romania and lies at an altitude of 350 meters above sea level. It is usually cold as no warm winds move into the area as the mountains surrounding it act as barriers.
This region experiences freezing winters with temperatures averaging 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.6 degrees Celsius). Snow is present in Cluj-Napoca from October and lasts till April.
Snow in Timisoara
As a city laced with secessionist architecture, Timisoara displays the rich European history and modern-day Turkish, Austrian, and German influence results. This city is located on the western side of Romania at an altitude of 295 feet (90 meters) above sea level. It often experiences cold spells which may hit a low of -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 degrees Celsius). Timisoara experiences snow from November to March, and during this period, the snow accumulates to a depth of 13.54 inches (344 millimeters).
Ski Resorts in Romania
Romania has over 200 kilometers of a skiable slope, making it home to many ski resorts. Here are the three of the best resorts in the country.
Poiana Brasov Ski Resort
This resort is the biggest and is surrounded by sublime views. It covers 13.7 kilometers of slope and acts as a host of winter sports between 941 and 1783 meters. It is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
The resort has three skiing routes depending on a skier’s level of expertise. The three routes are blue descend stretching 5.8 kilometers of slope for beginner skill level, the red route with a slope of 2.8 kilometers for intermediate skill level, and a treacherous course covering 5.1 kilometers of steep decline for the experts.
Straja Ski Resort
Straja ski resort is located on the Carpathian Mountains in Hunedoara County. It has an elevation of 1440 meters, and there are over 19.7 kilometers of slope available for skiing. Skiers can access the resort through either a gondola or road from Lupeni.
Straja has twelves slopes, five of which can be accessed at night. It also offers other snow activities and games such as snowboarding and snowshoeing.
Sinaia Ski Resort
This is a winter sports hub that is famous for Peles Castle and the beautiful Interwar Villas. It has the highest ski area in Romania, with an elevation of 6857 feet (2090 meters). Its slopes, covering 20 kilometers, are made for intermediate skill level skiers.
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