Icy days with negative maximum temperatures will mark the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. This is predicted by climatologist Prof. Georgi Rachev, quoted by bTV.
Although the air is currently "terribly clean" after the strong winds, the cold will be noticeable as early as tomorrow.
The climatologist issued the most serious warning to winter tourism enthusiasts. According to him, on the first weekend of the New Year, the conditions in the high parts of the mountains will be harsh.
"Those who will be outside on New Year's Eve must be dressed well and wear hats," advises Prof. Rachev. He added that on Todorka Peak, thermometers may show extreme values of up to -25 degrees.
While Bulgaria falls into the icy embrace of the anticyclone, neighboring countries will enjoy unusually warm weather. According to the data presented by Prof. Rachev, 15 degrees are expected in Istanbul, and in Belgrade the thermometers will reach 16 degrees.
"In Rome, one can even walk around in a T-shirt at lunchtime. In Moscow, it is even -1 degree, which is very warm for these days", the expert commented.
In Bulgaria, however, the "ice days" (days in which the maximum temperature does not exceed 0 degrees) will continue until January 4. Only after this date is a change in the weather expected and the beginning of warming. Currently, temperatures in the center of Sofia are around -3 degrees, and in the eastern neighborhoods they reach -5.
Despite the current cold snap, Prof. Rachev noted that we are heading for another hot year on a global scale. According to him, 2025 is "perhaps the third warmest year" recorded so far, which confirms the long-term trend towards climate warming, despite short winter extremes.