site.bta2024 Was Bulgaria's Warmest Year since 1930

Last year, 2024, was 0.5C warmer than the previous record year, 2023, making it the hottest year for this country since 1930, according to an analysis by the National Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology (NIMH). The average temperature was 2.1C above climate norms, with winter and summer the warmest on record. Spring and autumn are also warmer than usual, albeit with smaller deviations. Only May and November were colder than normal, by 0.8C and 1.2C respectively.

Temperature records

The summer of 2024 set records with intense heat waves in July and August. Sandanski in the southwest recorded nine consecutive days with temperatures above 40C, while in Dalgopol near Varna, the hot spell lasted 33 days - from late July to late August. In southern regions, such as the Upper Thracian Lowland and Yambol, high temperatures persisted for more than 25 days.

Precipitation

Rainfall during the year was on average close to normal, but its distribution was uneven. The largest deficits occurred in February (-63%) and October (-66%), while December was the rainiest with 127% above normal rainfall. The annual rainfall total was 610 mm, which is 8% below normal.

Extreme events

2024 was marked by numerous extreme weather events. Thunderstorms and hailstorms in April caused severe damage to 5,000 decares of agricultural land in south-central Bulgaria. In June, hailstorms and violent winds caused significant destruction in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo and Stara Zagora, with rainfall in places reaching 80% of the monthly norm in just a few hours.

On July 22, lightning caused a fire in an apartment block in Plovdiv and claimed the lives of two tourists in the Central Balkan. September brought intense flooding in Beloslav and Kavarna, where rainfall exceeded twice the monthly norm. Fifty-two households were affected and the damage was significant.

Summer heat and human negligence led to numerous fires, with wind further complicating the situation. On July 17, a fire in the village of Voden, Yambol Region, destroyed 35 houses and forced the evacuation of the village.

The data presented is preliminary. The detailed analysis will be included in the annual NIMH bulletin in March.