Bulgaria Climate

Climate of Bulgaria

Due to the large variation in area and the presence of the Black Sea, Bulgaria has five climatic areas.

The continental temperate climate area covers the Danube Plain to the northern slopes of the Balkans. It is characterized by cold and snowy winters and hot summers. Between seasons there is a wide range of temperatures, from -10°C in winter to about 30°C in summer. The area is not very humid, with an annual rainfall of 500 mm - 700 mm, with maximum rainfall in May and June.

The central part of the country is under the influence of a transitional continental climate. It experiences mild winters and hot summers, ranging from -3°C in the winter months to over 30°C in the summer. These areas are also drier, with about 500 mm - 600 mm of rain per year, and more prone to local winds.

The southern part of the country has a Mediterranean variety of continental climate. The area is characterized by mild and rainy winters and dry and hot summers. It is also considerably wetter than in other parts of the country. Annual precipitation oscillates between 600 mm - 1000 mm, with maximum rainfall in November and December.

The narrow coastal belt of the Black Sea is characterized by a continental Black Sea climate. It typically experiences mild winters, warm autumns and moderately warm springs and summers. In winter, the temperature generally does not fall below 0°C, and in summer it reaches above 30°C. Annual precipitation ranges from 450 mm on the Dobrudžan coast to 800 mm on the Strandžan coast.

Regions above 1,000 meters above sea level have a mountain climate with climatic stackedness, where air temperature depends on the altitude of the area. The higher it is, the colder it is and the more abundant the precipitation, which is close to 1,200 mm per year. In winter, frosts that can reach below -15°C are common, while in summer temperatures oscillate on average from about 0°C to 18°C.