Heavy Snow Brings Transport Chaos to Romania as Flights to Bucharest Face Delays

A major snowstorm has hit Romania, blanketing large parts of the country in thick snow and causing serious transport chaos. Southern and eastern regions, including the capital Bucharest, were among the hardest hit. Authorities issued weather warnings and urged people to avoid nonessential travel. 

The storm arrived on 17-18 February 2026, bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds, and near-blizzard conditions in places. In Bucharest and the nearby Ilfov County, snow depths reached around 40-50 centimetres in some areas. The Romanian weather service had forecast the heavy snow several days in advance, warning of disruptions to roads, rail, and air travel. 

Roads across southern and eastern Romania became difficult or impossible to use. Several highway sections were closed as snowploughs struggled to keep up. Many cars got stuck in snowdrifts, and drivers reported long delays or being unable to move at all. Emergency services worked through the night to clear main routes and help stranded motorists. 

Rail services were also badly affected. Trains on key lines recorded delays of tens of minutes to more than two hours. On the main, like 300 between Crivina and Brazi, fallen trees damaged overhead power lines, forcing some services to stop or reroute. Bucharest’s North Train Station (Gara de Nord) saw many arrivals and departures running late. 

Air travel to and from Bucharest was thrown into disarray. Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) and Bucharest Baneasa Airport both reported flight cancellations, delays, and diversions. On 18 February, several flights were rerouted to cities such as Varna, Sofia, Cluj, Craiova, and Athens. Airlines, including LOT, TAROM, and Turkish Airlines, were among those affected. 

Airport officials said runway-clearing operations and aircraft de-icing procedures added to waiting time. A red-code weather warning was in place for Bucharest for several hours in the early morning, followed by an orange alert for the rest of the day. Passengers were advised to arrive early, check their flight status online, and contact their airline before heading to the airport. 

The heavy snow also caused power cuts for about 200,000 homes, according to the energy minister. Utility crews worked to restore electricity, and officials said most outages were gradually being fixed. Schools in several affected areas were closed or shifted to online classes to keep children safe. 

Meteorologists expect more cold weather in the coming days, with a few more snowy periods forecast across Romania. The National Weather Service is urging people to stay updated on local alerts and to drive only if necessary. 

The snowstorm has severely disrupted daily life in Romania, especially in and around Bucharest. Authorities are focusing on clearing roads, restoring power, and getting transport services back to normal as quickly as possible.