site.btaCode Orange, Yellow Alerts Issued for Heavy Rain, Snow Countrywide on Friday

The National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) has issued an orange warning for 14 administrative regions and a yellow warning for the remaining 14 administrative regions for December 15 on account of heavy rain and snow, it emerged from the Institute's website on Thursday.

An orange alert for dangerous weather applies to the regions of Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Kyustendil, Sofia Region, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Smolyan, Kardzhali, Montana, Vratsa, Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo and Burgas.

A yellow alert for potentially dangerous weather applies to the regions of  Haskovo, Ruse, Sofia City, Varna, Dobrich, Pleven, Razgrad, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Vidin and Yambol.

On Friday, the heavy rain will turn into snow in the mountain areas and in the Northeast and a new snow cover will form. Blizzards and snow drifts are possible, the NIMH experts warn. 

The rain is expected to raise river water levels in some parts of the country, the Environment and Water Ministry said on its website on Thursday. The water quantities will be below the threshold of concern, the Ministry specified.