Orange-coded heat advisory in effect across Moldova

The State Weather Service has issued a orange-coded heat advisory for August 4-7 covering the entire country, with temperatures forecasted to reach 39 degrees Celsius and above. Additionally, a Class V fire weather warning is in place during August 2-7 in the southern districts and other parts of the country, and weathermen advise extreme caution in handling fire near wooded areas and crop fields. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Vlad Filat announced that the drought has reached crisis proportions. In many locations across the country wells have run dry and people have to cover tens of kilometers to fetch water. International observations have showed that solar activity is now at its peak and it is likely that it will stay so next year, too. When code orange is announced, this means that the weather represents a real hazard that can affect socioeconomic activities, cause damages and even loss of human lives. A heat wave poses health risks such as fainting, hypertension surges, sun strokes, sunburns, dehydration, in particular among the high-risk groups, including children, the elderly, and people with heart or respiratory conditions. Exposure to the sun should be avoided from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and minimal water intake should be 2 liters in this period.