On Monday Romania experienced the hottest day of 2021 so far, with temperatures reaching up to 41 degrees Celsius, in the south of the country. 16 counties and the capital Bucharest were under an orange code alert for persistent heat and particularly severe thermal discomfort, with the National Weather Service issuing a yellow code alert for 8 counties. The temperature-humidity index exceeded the critical threshold of 80 units, which considerably increased the discomfort. According to meteorologists, in the next two weeks, the heat will subside and there will be periods of very high temperatures alternating with periods of lower temperatures.
The south of the country will remain the most affected, Meda Andrei, from the National Weather Service, explained to Radio Romania: “For the time being, we are not expecting extreme temperatures, but, in the next two weeks we expect intervals with slightly higher temperatures. This week, for instance, on Thursday, the southernmost parts of Romania could see very high temperatures again, around 39 degrees C, with 36-37 degrees C in Bucharest. The highest temperatures will be reported in the south. For the rest of the country, temperatures will be normal for this period, and after a short period of cooler weather, when temperatures will drop below 35 degrees, at the end of the week, on Sunday and at the beginning of next week, temperatures will rise again above 35 degrees. But for now, we do not expect a persistent heat wave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees C.”
Physicians are drawing attention to the risks that people are running during the heat wave, especially those suffering from chronic diseases. According to the manager of the Bucharest Ambulance Service, Alice Grasu, the human body can adapt to not very big temperature variations, of 4-5 degrees, in about two weeks.
Alice Grasu: “When the temperature variations are big from one hour to another, from one day to another, from day to night, there is an aggression on the body, which is forced to adapt to these big temperature variations in a very short time. Therefore, some people with chronic conditions are at risk of having their symptoms exacerbated, so they need to take additional protective measures during this period. The vulnerable categories are the infants, young children, people with disabilities, people with chronic diseases and the elderly and they are advised not to travel long distances in the heat between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., not to make physical effort in the sun and not to sunbathe.”
Doctors also recommend people to drink water at room temperature and to avoid alcoholic drinks and caffeinated beverages because they dehydrate the body. (LS)
