Major agricultural losses after severe hailstorms hit Romania
Romania’s farmlands have taken a hard hit from a wave of violent spring storms this week, with hail and flooding wiping out large portions of this season’s crops. As temperatures plunge and weather alerts remain in place, the Environment Minister has warned of a possible year without Romanian-grown produce. Urban areas saw dramatic scenes, but the lasting scars are on the fields.
Image credit: Meteoplus
Crops across Romania suffered severe and possibly irreversible damage after violent storms struck the country on April 26, 2025. Fields were pelted with hail and flooded by heavy rains, leaving many harvests destroyed beyond recovery.
The National Meteorological Agency (ANM) had issued a warning for thunderstorms and intense rainfall, which also left streets underwater and coated residential areas in thick ice. But while urban disruptions were temporary, the agricultural losses are expected to have lasting effects.
Romania’s Environment Minister warned that if conditions don’t improve soon, there may be no Romanian-grown food on the market this year. The frost has already devastated crops like cherries, sour cherries, apricots, and peaches.
In the Doicești commune of Dâmbovița County, intense storms left public spaces submerged, and a white crust settled over cars and private properties, giving the area a winter-like appearance during the transition from spring to summer. The issued weather alerts have particularly emphasized the counties and cities of Brașov, Vâlcea, Dâmbovița, and Arad.
Further adversely affected areas include Brașov, where the Râșnov region experienced intense rainfall that submerged entire streets, with hailstones scattered across the area. In the Nicolae Bălcescu commune of Vâlcea county, a layer of hail covered the yards.
The region of Arad, specifically the commune of Vărădia de Mureș, was also hit by big chunks of hail. The National Meteorological Agency also issued an orange warning on April 26 itself for intense rainfall and storms across nine counties. Over half of the country was placed under a yellow warning for storms, lightning, and strong winds on Saturday.
Meteorologists have forecast a sharp drop in temperatures, with conditions expected to plunge from above 20°C (68°F) to lows of -3°C (-26°F) in the coming days. The severe weather alert remains in effect through April 29.
References:
1 Hailstorm wreaked havoc in Romania. Images of flooded streets and yards covered with a thick layer of ice – Libertatea – April 27, 2025
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