This January has been much snowier than the previous five years. While frost could easily be found in 2023-2024, and below freezing temperatures have been common, this year seems to have more condensation on the ground.
Expats have broken bones from slipping in past years, and this year seems even more dangerous than usual. We would warn people moving through Cluj this week to do so with care.
On Saturday, 17, January 2026, we observed more ice on the road and pavement than we had previously in Cluj Napoca. Some of us have witnessed similar levels in the Baltics or in the northern regions of Great Britain, and there have always been dangerous parts of Cluj, but today it has gotten worse.
As the next week is predicted to stay with below freezing weather, with even the predicted highs for most of the month to be three degrees below zero or colder, we do not see the snow and ice going away soon. Yes, there is very little chance of future precipitation for the rest of the month, however, as older snow gets packed into snow it becomes more slippery, and even without rain or snow there are other forms of condensation which can continue to cause pavements and roads to become slippery.
Sledding is popular these days, and we even see people walking their dogs or jogging without any care for the ice. Some locals are accustomed to it, and know where to go, where to avoid, and have the muscles to handle this.
If you fall, or a child falls, and experience continuous pain, it may be a broken bone. We would suggest checking with a doctor in case of persistent and unusual pains.