Considerations Regarding Hazardous Climatic Processes in South – Western Romania for the 2013 Spring and Summer

All through the year 2013 climatic variability was exceptional. The warm weather, maintained throughout the 2012 – 2013 winter season lasted 84 days with lowest temperatures predominantly positive and maximum values reaching up to 10 – 14° C at the end of January 2013, and has determined the vegetation phases to resume for some plant species, for autumn crops and some species of fruit tree like the apricot. On 18.III.2013, the apricot floral bobs were formed and blooming was imminent. Afterwards between 25 and 28.03 the late spring blizzard and snowfall, which developed a snow layer, represented a significant agro-climatic hazard. Within the 2 – 4.04 time frame the abundant and torrential rains led to the flooding along rivers and the outflow of water into agricultural crops. Flooding also occurred alongside the Danube. The intricate drought arisen within the 10.04. – 20.05 time period generated important production losses especially for the barley crop, particularly in the southern region. During the summer three intense heat waves were recorded which threatened the agricultural crops. This research is part of an extensive series of analyses regarding the climate variability in south-western Romania and aids researchers, undergraduates and postgraduates in the climate field (Marinica et al. 2011, 2013).