site.btaBulgaria's Climate Begins to Resemble Northern Greece, Says Climatologist

Reaching record high temperatures has become a tradition over the past 7-8 years, climatologist Simeon Matev told BTA. The highest temperature so far this summer in the country is 43.5C in Montana, he said.

"In some respects, our climate has begun to resemble that of northern Greece, as can be seen in Sandanski, (Southwest Bulgaria) Haskovo, and Kardzhali (South Bulgaria), where the average temperature is similar to that in Greek cities 30-40 years ago," Matev explained. Sofia (Western Bulgaria) now has an average annual temperature similar to that of Blagoevgrad (Southwest Bulgaria), and Blagoevgrad has an average annual temperature similar to that of Sandanski, he added.

Although the country did not reach an absolute record this summer, the climatologist warns that the heat waves are becoming longer: "We are witnessing a series of days when the temperature does not fall below 35-40C."

During such heat waves, nighttime temperatures are also high and often do not fall below 20C. These are known as tropical nights, he added. The body is unable to cool down properly, it does not rest, and the heat waves are exhausting, the climatologist emphasized. According to him, as a result, people become more susceptible to disease and their productivity decreases.

Some professions are particularly vulnerable to heat, such as tram drivers. In Sofia, 11 trams are scheduled to have air conditioners installed in the driver's cab by the end of 2025, and 40 others are scheduled to be installed after the trams are modernized by September 2030. "If it is 40C outside, it can get up to 55C inside, and the record we've measured is 62C," Matev said. A total of 67 railcars are factory-equipped with air conditioning systems for both the driver's cab and the passenger compartment, according to information from Sofia Public Electrical Transport Company JSC. All electric buses and trolleybuses are 100% air-conditioned.

Sometimes people feel sick, tram driver Aleksander Trifonov told BTA. Some of the old trams are air-conditioned, but only the driver's cabins, he added.