Bulgaria
6 cities
Climate overview
Bulgaria's climate stretches across 41°14′–44°13′N in southeast Europe, with a Black Sea coastline defining the eastern border. The terrain is complex: the Danubian plain dominates the north, the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina) run east–west across the center, and the Rhodope, Rila, and Pirin ranges rise in the south, crowned by Mount Musala at 2,925 m, the highest peak in the Balkans. This produces a transition between humid continental (Dfb) in the interior, humid subtropical (Cfa) along the Black Sea coast, and Mediterranean influence in the southwest river valleys.
Sofia, at 550 m elevation, records January lows around −4°C and July highs near 28°C, with annual precipitation around 620 mm. The Black Sea coast, exemplified by Varna, is milder (January lows near 0°C and August highs around 29°C) but drier at roughly 520 mm annually.
Plovdiv in the southern Maritsa valley has summer highs averaging above 31°C, while mountain stations like Musala remain below freezing for four or more months per year with snow cover lasting over six months. Cold northerly and northeasterly winds can affect the Black Sea coast in winter, and summer thunderstorms can bring hail.
Our archive covers 6 Bulgarian cities with daily ERA5 reanalysis data going back to 1940. The hottest July afternoons are in Plovdiv, with average highs around 30.3°C, while Sofia has the coldest January nights, with average lows near −4.6°C. Comparing the last decade against the 1940–1970 baseline, mean temperatures across these cities have risen by about 1.7°C.
How the climate has shifted in Bulgaria
Average across 6 cities with full ERA5 coverage: 1940–1970 baseline vs the last decade (2016–2025).
- Annual mean temperature
- 12.3°C→14.0°C
- Days above 30°C per year
- 20 days→43 days+23
- Frost days per year
- 65 days→41 days−24
- Tropical nights (≥20°C) per year
- 21 nights→33 nights+12
Warmest year in the record so far: 2024.
What's unusual right now
From a snapshot of the world's largest cities updated each hour. Today's mean temperature compared with each city's long-term average for the same calendar date (ERA5 climatology, 1940 onward). Last 30 days uses each city's rolling daily-mean vs its monthly average. Not a global ranking.
Running warm
Warmer than usual