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Weather and seasons in Bulgaria: where to look

Bulgaria's official weather source is the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), whose site publishes 3-day, weekly, 15-day, monthly and seasonal forecasts, mountain and Black Sea forecasts, and colour-coded warnings by municipality. This article shows a newcomer how to use them and how to prepare by season. It contains no temperature or rainfall figures because the official page we read does not offer them.

Everyday life · Last reviewed: 2026-10-07

The official source: NIMH

The institute's home page brings together the 3-day forecast for the country, weekly, 15-day, monthly and seasonal outlooks, mountain and Black Sea coast forecasts, and sea wave forecasts. The same site carries specialised products such as the fire danger index, agricultural meteorology, river conditions, air quality and desert dust transport. There are many weather apps, but when a warning matters, the official institution is the place to check.

The site also hosts monthly climate summaries and analyses, seasonal climate assessments and documents on long-term climate change for Bulgaria. Anyone considering a move should read the actual values there for housing and clothing plans themselves, which is why we do not quote numbers here.

How to read the warnings

The institute publishes a warning map for dangerous weather phenomena for the current day and the next, colour-coded and at municipality level. The exact meaning of each colour is explained in the legend on the page, so read the legend before the map. If your municipality is covered by a warning, review your plans; in extreme weather call 112 for emergency help.

  1. Pick your location

    A coastal town, a plain and a mountain can have very different weather on the same day; city forecasts and mountain or sea forecasts are published separately.

  2. Look at the warning map first

    Before a trip, a hike or long work outdoors, check the colour-coded warning.

  3. Read short and long forecasts together

    The 3-day forecast is for planning; the 15-day and monthly outlooks show only a general trend, so do not treat them as certain.

Preparing by season

In Bulgaria the seasons are clearly marked and there is a difference between the mountains and the coast; this is our own general assumption and we did not read figures for it in the source. In practice it means planning the year in three parts: housing, clothing and transport.

  • Winter: settle your heating and whether the car needs winter tyres in autumn; see the related articles.
  • Spring and autumn: layers and a rain jacket for changeable weather; for a mountain hike an hourly forecast alone is not enough.
  • Summer: in the countryside check the fire danger index, which the institute publishes.
  • All seasons: a forecast can change, so update your plan to the warning level.

Check the figures yourself

When budgeting for rent, heating or clothing, look at the monthly climate analyses for your specific city: a national average hides the gap between Sofia and the Black Sea coast.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I follow the official weather in Bulgaria?

On the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) site, meteo.bg, which carries 3-day, weekly, 15-day, monthly and seasonal forecasts and the warnings.

Are there separate forecasts for the mountains and the sea?

Yes. The institute's site publishes separate forecasts for the mountains and the Black Sea coast, plus sea wave forecasts.

What does the warning map show?

Dangerous weather phenomena for today and tomorrow, colour-coded at municipality level. The meaning of the colours is in the legend on the page.

Sources

The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.

  1. Национален институт по метеорология и хидрология (НИМХ) — Прогнози, предупреждения и климатични анализи — https://www.meteo.bg/ · 2026-10-07

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