Two Mediterranean cyclones: forecasters expect heavy rain in Bulgaria until Nov. 4
According to Meteo Balkans, more than 100 liters per square meter are possible near Varna. Prof. Georgi Rachev expects up to 120–130 liters in the Balkan Mountains and Rhodopes. Follow official warnings.
Symbolic image · Photo: Dimitar Georgiev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Two consecutive Mediterranean cyclones crossing the Balkan Peninsula will bring heavy rain to much of Bulgaria, according to forecasters at Meteo Balkans. The rain is expected to continue at varying intensity until Nov. 4. Some scenarios of the ECMWF and GFS weather models show local totals in the Varna area exceeding the critical 100 liters per square meter, while intense rain is possible on the southern Black Sea coast. According to Meteo Balkans, conditions exist for orange and red warnings.
Climatologist Prof. Georgi Rachev told broadcaster bTV he expects prolonged rain over the next five days – up to 120 to 130 liters per square meter over the whole period along the ridge of the Balkan Mountains and in the Rhodopes, and around 40 to 50 liters elsewhere. "It will rain, it will rain, and quite a lot," he said. He does not expect major flooding because the rain will be spread over a longer period, but local flooding and rising levels on small rivers are possible. After Wednesday, the snow line could drop to 1,000 to 1,200 meters.
Forecasters stress that the predictions are still changing and that it will only become clear at the last moment where the most rain will fall. Residents are urged to follow the official warnings of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH).