Weather in Bulgaria by Month
Bulgaria occupies the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, which is washed by the Black Sea. The country shared its southern borders with Greece and Turkey, and its western borders with Serbia and Macedonia. In the north, the natural border between Bulgaria and Romania is the Danube River. The area of the country is 110,912 km, where about 7.1 million people live.
About 30% of the territory of Bulgaria is occupied by plains and other low-lying areas, and 40% are mountains, plateaus and hills. In the southwest of the country there are two mountain ranges – Rila and Pirin, and in the east – the Rhodopes. Rila includes the highest point in the Balkans, Musala (2925 meters above sea level). The Balkan mountain range stretched from west to east and divided the country in half.
Bulgaria is famous for its mineral springs, of which there are about 1600. The water temperature in them ranges from 37 to 101 degrees.
The climate of the country is continental-Mediterranean, with cold winter months and hot summer months. The Black Sea resorts have one of the largest European beaches and offer holidays from May to October. From December to March at the ski resorts of the country you can try out slopes of different difficulties. Our weather calendar will help you choose the best month for a holiday in Bulgaria.
January
The weather in January is changeable, but it is safe to say that this month is the coldest for Bulgaria. The sun warms the air in Sofia up to +1°C…+4°C. At ski resorts, the temperature is favorable for winter sports, -7°C…-10°C. On the Black Sea coast, winters are milder and more humid, the temperature rarely drops below zero. The water in the Black Sea does not rise above +5°C.
February
The beginning of the month is accompanied by snowfalls, blizzards and ice. The air temperature drops to -10°C, especially in mountainous areas. Off the coast, precipitation is especially intense, but it falls in the form of rain. During the day, the thermometers show up to +6°C. By the end of the month in the coastal regions, the sun warms the air masses up to +10°C. The sea water temperature is +4°C.
March The weather this month is the least predictable. If the bright sun shines in the morning, then by lunchtime it may be replaced by rain and snow, and later the sun’s rays will again please you with warmth. There is still snow in the mountains, usually ski resorts in the north of the country are open until the end of the month. The daytime temperature is kept at +5°C, and the night temperature is -5°C. During the day, the coastal areas are warmest – up to + 11 ° C, and the sea warms up to + 7 ° C.
April
In the middle of spring, snow rarely falls, but such a possibility is not excluded. It usually melts very quickly, as the air temperature does not drop below zero. The typical temperature for April is +15°C. Colder weather lasts only in mountainous areas – about + 3 °… + 4 ° C. Sea water warms up to +15°С…+17°C. The days are getting longer – sunset comes around 8 pm.
May
At the end of spring, there are more and more sunny days, and the average daily temperature is around +20°C. In May, the sea water has time to warm up to +18°C, which allows not only sunbathing, but also the risk of swimming. The mountain slopes are covered with greenery and flowering. The thermometers rise to +15°C during the day and drop to +7°C at night.
June
June is the first month when the thermometers can rise to +30°C. The flat part of the country at the beginning of the month is subject to frequent precipitation in the form of rain, and snow still lies on the tops of the mountains. On the sea coast, the temperature of the air masses reaches +25°С, and the water warms up to +22°С. Beaches and hotels are already filled with tourists. June is the month with the longest daylight hours, when the sun shines until 9:30 pm.
July Weather conditions in July are conducive to a comfortable stay on the beaches and swimming in the sea. The highest temperature is observed in the coastal regions – up to +27°С, and the lowest, +20°С, in the mountains. The sun warms the water in the Black Sea up to +23°С…+25°C. From the sea the wind brings a pleasant coolness. Precipitation is extremely rare.
August
August is one of the hottest periods in Bulgaria. By the end of the month, the nights become cooler, especially in the mountains. Temperature indicators of the air are at the level of +26°С…+27°C, and the sea – up to +25°C. In mountainous areas, during the day, the thermometers rise to +16°C, and in the evening, the figures drop to +10°C.
September
The gentle sun that warms but does not burn, as well as the warm blue sea – this is how the “velvet season” begins in Bulgaria. In the mountainous areas, a slight fog is predicted in the morning, and the air temperature is +15°C. On the sea coast, average monthly temperatures fluctuate around +21°С…+25°C. The water in the Black Sea warms up to +23°C.
October
October is the first month when autumn is already felt, cool and rainy in places. On the southern coast (Sozopol, Neserb, Tsarevo), the holiday season still lasts until mid-October. Daytime air temperature reaches +25°C, and water temperature is about +20°C. In mountainous areas, the air warms up during the day only up to + 8 ° C.
November
Although November is an autumn month, it sometimes behaves like a winter month in Bulgaria. Snow can fall at any time, and the air temperature can drop to zero. In the second half of the month, precipitation in the form of snow falls in mountainous areas, and the temperature drops to -5°C. It rains heavily on the plains, and the air does not warm up above +7°C. A little warmer in the coastal zone. Here the thermometers will show +12°С…+15°C. The water temperature is kept at +15°C.
December
The first month of winter in Bulgaria is characterized by frequent snowfalls and fogs. Toward the end of December, ski resorts begin their work. At this time of the year, the average daytime temperature is -4°C, and by night it can rise to -10°C. It is cool in the Black Sea resorts: during the day + 7 ° C, at night + 2 ° C. In low-lying areas, precipitation in the form of snow will fall on average for about 10 days.
