Bulgaria is set for a hot, mostly sunny weekend, with afternoon temperatures climbing to between 30°C and 35°C in many areas on Saturday 11 July, according to the forecast carried by Novinite. The catch arrives on Sunday 12 July, when cloud building from the northwest brings short-lived rain showers and thunderstorms to much of the country, with the strongest activity expected over mountainous and hilly ground.
If the weekend involves plans, the order matters: the beach run, the garden work and the long drive all belong to Saturday. Sunday afternoon is when the sky turns grumbly, Monday brings a further dip in temperatures, and sunshine returns from Tuesday. It caps a week that has run to the same rhythm, with Novinite's daily forecasts alternating sunny mornings and afternoon thunderheads since Tuesday.
Saturday: Sunshine, Light Winds and a Proper 35°C
Saturday is the pick of the weekend. The forecast promises plenty of sunshine and mostly calm conditions, with atmospheric pressure slightly above the monthly average. Afternoon temperatures reach 30°C to 35°C in many areas, with Sofia expected to sit around 30°C. The pazar traders have the right idea in this weather: do your business before ten and leave the afternoon to the shade.
The Coast Stays Kind, the Mountains Get Blowy
Along the Black Sea coast it is sunny skies and light winds, with the usual sea breeze developing after midday. Air temperatures hold between 29°C and 31°C, and the sea itself sits at 24°C to 26°C, with waves of 1 to 2 points on the marine sea-state scale, which in plain English means calm. If Saturday was earmarked for the seaside, the forecast is entirely on your side.
The mountains get the sunshine too, but with a sting: winds from the west-northwest turn moderate to strong. Expect about 22°C at 1,200 metres and around 16°C at 2,000 metres, which even in July counts as jacket weather on an exposed ridge. Factor the wind into any high route before committing to it.
Sunday Turns Stormy, Monday Cools Off
On Sunday cloud develops over northwestern Bulgaria during the morning and spreads across much of the country later in the day. Short bursts of rain and thunderstorms are expected, strongest over the mountains and hill country, while winds shift to the west-northwest and strengthen, pulling in slightly cooler air.
Monday 13 July continues the cooling. Brief showers and thunderstorms are possible across Central Northern Bulgaria in the morning, with the activity moving to Eastern Bulgaria, which puts the Shumen region in the frame, and to the mountains in the afternoon. Winds turn north-northwesterly and daytime temperatures ease back further. From Tuesday the sunshine returns, though isolated afternoon showers remain possible in places.
The Heat Comes With a Fire Warning Attached
The week's news is a reminder of what 35°C does to a dry countryside. Novinite reported that a wildfire broke out near the Struma highway in southwestern Bulgaria on Thursday afternoon, with flames spreading between the villages of Levunovo and General Todorov in Sandanski Municipality; one man suffered severe burns and an air ambulance was called. Farther afield, at least 11 people were killed when a fast-moving wildfire swept through Spain's southern province of Almería during an intense heatwave.
None of that is a forecast for the weekend, but it is the context for one: hot, dry, breezy conditions are exactly when a burn pile or a carelessly sited barbecue gets away from its owner. If the garden waste has been waiting for a bonfire, let it wait a little longer.
Planning Around It
For British expats the weekend more or less plans itself: coast, pool or courtyard on Saturday, something with a roof on Sunday afternoon, and the errands saved for a cooler Monday. Our weather page carries the live picture and outlook for Shumen if plans need adjusting, and anyone driving south past Sandanski will want to keep an eye on local fire updates before setting off.