Weather outlook for Bulgaria’s unofficial four-day weekend
In 2026, Bulgaria’s September 22 Independence Day public holiday is on a Tuesday, and while September 21 is officially a working day, many will be tempted to enjoy an unofficial four-day weekend as summer nears its close.
According to the national meteorological bureau, the weather on September 19 will be sunny, with some cloudiness in the afternoon and possible brief spells of rain.
Maximum temperatures will be between 27° and 32° Celsius, and minimums between 12° and 17°.
On Sunday, sunny weather will prevail, but over the western half of the country it will get cloudier, with possible rain and thunder. Daytime temperatures will slightly decrease.
At the beginning of next week, cool air will flow in, bringing more clouds and rain, with thunderstorms in western and central northern Bulgaria.
Tuesday will be cloudy, with heavy rain in places. Temperatures will continue to drop and the maximum in most places will be between 15° and 20°. On Wednesday it will be windy.
Separately, Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency said that during the Independence Day weekend – September 22, traffic for heavy lorries of more than 12 tons will be temporarily restricted on the busiest road routes Trakia Motorway, Hemus Motorway and Struma Motorway and the section of road I -1 in Blagoevgrad district.
On September 18, from 3pm to 8pm, the movement of heavy lorries leaving Sofia will be restricted.
On September 22, from noon to 8pm, the movement of heavy lorries over 12 tons travelling to Sofia will be restricted.
On the Hemus Motorway in the section from Sofia to the road connection to the roundabout with road I-4, on the Struma Motorway and the I-1 national road in the section from the Simitli substation to the Kresna substation on the Struma Motorway the restriction does not apply to road vehicles over 12 tons that are transporing passengers, as well as to motor vehicles that are transporting dangerous goods, live animals, perishable food products and temperature-controlled cargo and special carcass-carrying lorries.
For the Trakia Motorway, the restriction does not apply to road vehicles over 12 tons that are transporting passengers. In the direction of Sofia on the highway, the ban does not apply to motor vehicles that are transporting dangerous goods in the section from the Ihtiman turnoff to the Vakarel turnoff.
(Photo: Ivan Philipov)
