site.btaCode Yellow Alert Issued for Hot Weather in 16 Regions, Thunderstorms in 5 Regions on Monday

The National Institute of Meteorolgy and Hydrology Sunday issued a code yellow alert for hot weather in 16 regions of the country and for thunderstorms in 5 regions of Southwestern Bulgaria on Monday. Thunderstorms are possible in Western Bulgaria. The highs will vary between 31C and 36C, in Sofia around 33C.

Balin Balinov from Greenpeace Bulgaria commented for BTA that this summer has seen extremely long periods with very high temperatures. These are so-called heat waves, which have occurred in the past but in shorter periods of two or three days, Balinov said. However, climate change is more serious and the duration of heat waves affects the environment; the most visible manifestation of this is drought, the expert added. Very high temperatures also have serious consequences on people's health, he stressed.

In several cities in the country, the temperature of landmark buildings was measured with a thermal camera. Photos of such places in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria) were posted on Facebook, one of them showing a temperature of approximately 70C. Balinov explained that the reading of the temperatures in the city with a thermal camera shows the need for greenery and especially the importance of old trees.