Weather: snowfalls, blizzard, rain

Blizzard and massive snowfalls over the past few hours in different regions of Romania led to announcement of emergency situations in Bucharest and 16 out of 41 counties, RADOR states.

According to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, more than 150 trees were shot down by the wind, and 40 cars were stuck in the snow.

Road traffic is disrupted on DN66 Târgu Jiu – Petroşani, about 10 kilometers from the Lainici Monastery, in the direction heading to Petroşani, due to collapse of trees on the side of the road.

Railway traffic is also affected on Simeria - Filiaşi and Târgu Jiu – Filiaşi, InterRegio 1822, from Arad to Bucharest North, Vărădia and Zam stations, in Arad County, also between Topleţ and Cernai stations, CFR Călători says. Several trains are stationed due to fall of trees over the railway or lack of tensions in the contact network, according to Info-Traffic Center of Romanian Police General Inspectorate.

There are no blocked national roads or motorways, but road traffic takes place according to winter conditions on most of the country's roads.

Meteorologists say that an orange alert of snow and blizzard is currently into force, especially for Timiș and Caraș-Severin counties, but also for mountain areas of Hunedoara, Mehedinți, Gorj, Vâlcea, Argeș, Dâmbovița and Prahova counties.

National Mountain Rescue Service announces high avalanche risk (grade 4 or 5) in Bucegi and Făgăraș massifs, at altitudes of over 1,800 meters.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei