SNOWSTORM SPELLS OF JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012: GENESIS, MANIFESTATION AND EFFECTS IN BUZĂU COUNTY LOWLAND
BĂLTEANU, D. , MICU, DANA, BAROIU, D., DIMA, VIORICA , DRAGOTĂ, CARMEN, MĂRCULEŢ, CĂTĂLINA, ŞERBAN, P.
ABSTRACT. Spells of snowstorm: January-February 2012. Genesis, manifestation and effects in Buzău County lowland. The year 2012 featured a high incidence of extreme climatic events, especially between January and August, with severe weather spells (waves of cold, snowstorm, ice rain, abundant rainfalls, heat waves and canicula). The amplitude, duration and intensity of four successive episodes of snowstorms (January 24 - February 15, 2012) affected large areas in the east and south of Romania, particularly the North Bărăgan Plain. This paper is aimed at assessing the general and local synoptic conditions associated with extreme snowstorm (wind speed, heavy snowfall and local snow accumulations), as well as severe local effects felt in the lowland area of Buzău County.
Keywords: snowstorm, dangerous weather phenomenon, Bărăgan Plain, met warnings, damage, aggravating factors.