The municipality of Câmpulung Moldovenesc has a temperate continental climate in which the winters are relatively long, rich in snow, but not excessively harsh, and the summers are cool, with rich rainfall. Snow usually falls from October to the end of April; the average duration of the snow carpet is about 90 days.
One of the factors that explains the remarkable purity of the urban atmosphere is the breezes – a huge natural fan. Towards evening, a barely felt breeze descends and brings to the city the coolness of the heights and the ozone of the forests: it is the mountain breeze that displaces the “used” air during the day and receives it. Instead, in the morning, under the caress of the sun’s rays, the valley breeze starts, which raises the fog and spreads it slowly, leaving the heavy dewy grasses.
Recent years have seen unprecedented heatwaves in Romania: daytime temperatures in many areas soared above 38 °C, with southern regions reaching 40–41 °C and tropical nights above 20–24 °C. But following the intense heat, weather models and official forecasts showed a sharp drop—temperatures fell by up to 10–15 °C, followed by heavy storms, lightning, and strong winds.
This mix of early‑season heat and sudden storms means runners face dehydration and sun‑stress one moment, then risk exposure to cold rain, wind, or fog the next. In the Carpathian ridges—Rarău, Giumalău, Pietrosul Bistriţei and Călimani—storms can reduce visibility, turn trails slippery, and bring wind chill rapidly. Heatwaves add a layer of fatigue and dehydration even before reaching higher elevations, while post‑heatwave instability brings flash storms on ridges.
