Cold front approaches Bulgaria, weather warning alerts issued
Bulgaria’s unseasonably warm spell is set to end on January 25, when the entire country will experience inclement weather, local meteorologists said on January 24.
“Code orange” and “code yellow” weather warnings have been issued, covering the entire country, with rain and snow expected throughout. Some areas will also see strong winds.
Snow alerts have been issued for the Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Turnovo, Turgovishte, Rousse, Razgrad, Silistra, Shoumen, Plovdiv, Smolyan, Pazardjik, Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil and Blagoevgrad districts.
In the east and south-east, temperatures will remain above freezing point and the districts of Dobrich, Varna, Bourgas, Yambol, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Haskovo and Kurdjali will see rain instead of snow.
Weather warnings of strong winds have been issued for Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Turnovo, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Silistra, Dobrich, Shoumen, Varna and Bourgas districts.
Bulgaria is the last country in South-Eastern Europe to succumb to bad weather. On January 24, “code yellow” and “code orange” warnings because of rain, snow and wind have been issued in Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, according to the Network of European Meteorological Services.
In Greece, the temperatures are warmer and the weather alerts warned of thunderstorms, set to cover most of the country on January 25. The rest of the region will see again snow and rain, with Serbia and Montenegro, in particular, blanketed by “code orange” weather alerts.
The recent warm weather in Bulgaria has led to repeated temperature highs recorded all over the country – earlier this week, Veliko Turnovo saw temperatures top 20C and daily highs in the double-digits have been a common occurrence throughout the month of January. Bulgarian media featured numerous reports of snowdrops – the traditional first sign of the coming spring – already on sale in the country.
Bulgarian meteorologists have said that the long-term forecast for the rest of the winter months remains – despite the upcoming cold spell – one of unseasonably warm temperatures and very little rain or snow.
(Photo: Stephen Topp/flickr.com)
