site.btaThis Year's May among Coldest in Last 20 Years

May 2025 is one of the coldest and rainiest Mays in the past 20 years, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology reported on Friday.

Average monthly temperatures ranged between 12C and 18C, with a deviation from the monthly norm of between minus 2.5C and 0C, making year's May one of the three coldest Mays since 2005. The highest temperature measured was 32.2C on May 5 in Ruse, on the Danube, while the lowest in a populated area was on May 15 in Chepelare, Southern Bulgaria, when the temperature dropped to minus 0.5C. Sofia saw its lowest value, minus 2.1C, and highest one, 26.5C, on May 15 and May 23 respectively.

Agrometeorological conditions throughout the month were defined by unstable and cool weather for the season. Intense rainfall and hailstorms during the first and third ten days caused major damage to agricultural crops.

Some areas in the northwest, south and southeast regions of the country saw their spring and vegetable crops completely destroyed. Hailstorms in May also damaged vineyards and fruit crops. Frequent rainfall and higher topsoil moisture during the last week of the month hindered seasonal soil tillage and crop protection activities.