The absolute maximum temperature of May in Romania is 40.8 degrees Celsius, and the minimum -16 degrees. In Bucharest, the maximum temperature recorded so far by meteorologists is 36.9 degrees Celsius, while the minimum has dropped to -1.1 degrees Celsius.
“The month of May is characterized, in general, by an increase in atmospheric instability, against the backdrop of an increase in temperature. In this month, periods with sunny and warm days (sometimes hot) alternate with periods with cold and rainy days, and the rains are often torrential. Atmospheric circulation is very dynamic and situations of sudden weather changes can be created, against the background of a meridional atmospheric circulation. Thus, advections of polar air masses can occur that generate minimum temperatures below the freezing point, and in the mountainous area, snow and blizzard phenomena, but very warm, tropical air advections can also occur, which can generate strong increases in temperature, registering the first cases of heat waves of the year”, say the meteorologists.
Thus, from the data recorded in the period 1961 – 2023 at the weather stations in the network of the National Meteorological Administration, it is found that the multiannual average monthly temperature (1961-2023) has values higher than 18 degrees Celsius in the south-western extremity of Oltenia. Average monthly values between 16 and 18 degrees are characteristic of the plain areas (Western Plain, Romanian Plain, Moldavian Plain) and meadow, the low areas of Dobrogea and those of the Danube Delta. Average values between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius are found in the Western Hills, in Maramureş, in most of Transylvania and Moldova, in extensive areas of Dobrogea and Subcarpathia. In the mountainous area, but also in the intramontane depressions, the average temperature values are between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius. At altitudes above 1,700 meters, the average temperature is between 2 and 6 degrees and only on the high peaks of the Southern Carpathians (above 2,500 meters above sea level) are temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius on average.
According to ANM data, the absolute maximum temperature of May in Romania is 40.8 degrees Celsius, recorded in Mărculeşti (Călăraşi county), on May 27, 1950. On the same day, absolute maximums were also recorded at the Bucharest-Filaret meteorological stations ( 36.6 degrees Celsius) and Bucharest-Afumati (35.5 degrees Celsius).
“We mention that between May 25 and 28, 1950, especially in the southern half of Romania, in Transylvania, in the center and south of Moldova, the absolute maximum temperature exceeded 32 degrees Celsius at over 35 weather stations,” says ANM.
In Bucharest, the absolute maximum temperature of May is 36.9 degrees Celsius, recorded at the Bucharest-Băneasa meteorological station, on May 13, 1958.
Years in which high absolute maximum temperature values were recorded in May, most of them above 30 degrees Celsius are: 2006, 1996, 1969, 1958, 1950, etc. In the top of the years with the warmest May months are: 1968, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2013, 2018.
Regarding the absolute minimum temperature of May, in Romania, it is -16 degrees Celsius and was recorded at the weather station Vf. Omu, on May 14 and 15, 1940.
“Very low minimum temperatures, in May, were also recorded in the years: 2007, 1995, 1988, 1976, 1965, 1952. The year 2007 stood out for the large number of meteorological stations, 37, where temperatures were recorded absolute minimums, especially on May 2 and 3, for the most part, the values being below 0 degrees Celsius, and in the mountain area below -11 degrees (-11.2 degrees Celsius in Călimani and -11.8 degrees in Ceahlău Toaca). In the top of the years with the coldest months are: 1961, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1991”, according to meteorologists.
In Bucharest, the absolute minimum of this month is -1.1 degrees Celsius, recorded on May 3, 2007, at the Bucharest-Băneasa weather station. At the meteorological stations Bucharest-Filaret and Bucharest-Afumati, the absolute minimum temperature is -0.2 degrees, on May 7, 1915 and -0.1 degrees, respectively, on May 11, 1953.
From the point of view of precipitation, the month of May stands out for its increased intensity, as a result of the appearance of rain showers, sometimes accompanied by electrical discharges and hail.
From the data recorded in the period 1961 – 2023, at the meteorological stations in the network of the National Meteorological Administration, it is found that the average multiannual precipitation is less than 50 mm only in Dobrogea, the extreme east of the Romanian Plain and the extreme south of Moldova.
In the Romanian Plain and the Western Plain, in the Moldavian Plateau and western Transylvania, the multiannual precipitation values are between 50 and 75 mm. In most of Transylvania, in Maramureş, in the Suceva Plateau, in the sub-Carpathian areas and in the low mountain areas, the multiannual average precipitation is in the range of 75 – 125 mm. In the high mountain area of the Southern Carpathians and in the north of the Eastern Carpathians, they exceed 125 – 150 mm.
The maximum absolute monthly amount of precipitation, recorded at meteorological stations in Romania, is 392.4 mm, at Stâna de Vale, in the year 2021.
In Bucharest, the absolute maximum monthly amount of precipitation in May is 259.7 mm, recorded at Bucharest-Filaret, in 1971. In the same year, the absolute maximum was also recorded at the Bucharest-Afumati weather station, this being 247.7 mm . In Bucharest-Băneasa, the absolute maximum amount of precipitation is 233.4 mm, recorded in 2012.
In the top of the years with the rainiest May are: 1970, 1971, 1991, 2012, 2019, and in the top of the years with the driest May: 1969, 1982, 1986, 1992 and 2000.
According to ANM, the absolute maximum monthly amount of precipitation that fell in 24 hours, at meteorological stations in Romania, is 181.6 mm, recorded in Stâna de Vale, on May 18, 2021.
In Bucharest, the absolute maximum amount of precipitation that fell in 24 hours is 86 mm, recorded on May 29, 1997, at the Bucharest-Afumati station. On the same day, the absolute maximum was also recorded in Bucharest-Băneasa (61.9 mm). In Bucharest-Filaret, the absolute maximum was recorded on May 4, 2014 and is 64.8 mm.
source: AGERPRES
