Romania weather ranges from temperate to continental, its patterns modified by the country's varied topography and its position on the southeastern portion of the European continent. The west and center regions of Romania experience milder winters and heavier rainfalls, a fact that stems from the imposing presence of the Carpathians that shields the area from the oceanic influences of the Atlantic air masses. As they also block the continental influences of the vast plain to the north in the Ukraine, conditions in the south and southeast regions of Romania are characterized by frosty winter and less rainfall.
The extreme southeast of Romania experiences a milder type of climate, with abundant dashes of maritime, thanks to the influence of the Black Sea. The south and the middle-south experience average annual temperatures of 11°C (51.8°F), levels dropping slightly to 11°C (51.8°F) in the northeast.
Summer is a particularly warm – and occasionally hot – time in Romania. The lower-lying areas of the country often experience temperature highs 35°C (95°F) and lows of 18°C (64°F), although both minimal and maximum levels tend to drop considerably at higher altitude.
In contrast, Romania weather takes a sharp turn towards much colder conditions during the winter season; the lower-lying areas experience average highs no more than 3°C (36°F), the highest mountains a freezing -15°C (5°F), and some of the peaks are permanently covered in frost.
Romania generally receives modest amounts of precipitation, and only the highest western mountains average above 750mm (30 inches). However, since much of the precipitation falls as snow, the area is considered a skiing hot spot. In the delta of the Danube, rainfall is very low, averaging only around 370mm (15 inches) per year, whilst in the more westerly lowland like Bucharest it is around 530mm (21 inches).
Bucharest
Romania’s capital city experiences a temperate continental climate, largely modified by to its position on the Romanian Plain. Winters in Bucharest are often and cold, temperatures often dipping below 0 °C (32 °F), occasionally taking yet another nose dive to −15 °C (5 °F) and rarely -20 C.
Bucharest’s summer season is predominantly mild with July and August experiencing temperature averages of approximately 23 °C (73 °F). However it’s not uncommon for the city centre to experience much more stifling condition during mid-summer, as temperatures often soar to 35 °C (95 °F) occasionally peaking at 40 °C (104 °F). Average precipitation and humidity remain rather low during the summer season, the city infrequently experiences heavy and often violent storms.
During spring and autumn, average daytime temperatures vary between 17 °C (63 °F) to 22 °C (72 °F). Rainfalls while milder in comparison to summer are also more frequent and as a result precipitation during this time tends to be higher than in summer.
