Severe winter conditions continue to grip Bulgaria, disrupting travel and daily life across multiple regions. Following important snowfall, authorities are working to restore power to affected municipalities in the Montana, Vidin, Vratsa, and Lom areas, while also responding to flooding in the Pazardzhik province after the Telki Dere river overflowed its banks. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution due to hazardous road conditions, including “black ice” on key passages like Shipka Pass, and are advised to stay informed about evolving weather forecasts.
Severe winter weather continues to disrupt life across much of the country, with lingering power outages and hazardous road conditions following recent heavy snowfall. While the snow has stopped falling in many areas, including the Montana region, significant challenges remain.
Residents in several municipalities across the Montana, Vidin, Vratsa, and Lom regions are currently without electricity, though authorities expect power to be restored within hours. On January 4, reports emerged of stranded vehicles and overturned trucks in the Vidin province.
The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) reported 23 centimeters of snow had fallen in Vratsa as of this morning. Residents have shared images on social media, including in the “Vratsa say to the Mayor and Municipality” Facebook group, showing downed power lines weighed down by snow and ice.
The road between Lyuti Dol and Botevgrad in the Vratsa region reopened shortly after midnight on January 5, after being closed due to a disabled heavy-duty vehicle. No serious traffic accidents have been reported.
The Petrohan Pass currently registers a temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius, with clear road conditions. However, officials continue to urge drivers to exercise extreme caution when traveling to Sofia and back towards Montana and Vidin via the pass. The pass remains closed to trucks weighing over 12 tons.
Road crews and firefighters have cleared fallen branches and trees from roadways where they occurred.
Conditions remain particularly treacherous around the Shipka Pass, where a substantial amount of snow has accumulated. The combination of low temperatures and moisture on the road surface creates a high risk of “black ice,” a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that poses a significant danger to drivers.
Nova TV reported a stark contrast between the conditions on either side of the Shipka Pass. The southern side of the pass has been cleared down to the asphalt, with no reported issues, while the northern side presents a risk of ice formation. Road maintenance crews issued warnings overnight urging people to avoid travel due to deteriorating conditions. Nearly 18 centimeters of snow fell in the past 24 hours, and temperatures remain below freezing.
The energy operator reported that all power outages in Gabrovo have been resolved, and traffic is flowing freely.
Drivers are advised to be vigilant and ensure their vehicles are properly equipped for winter driving conditions.
A state of emergency has been declared in the village of Gelemenovo, in the Pazardzhik province, due to heavy rainfall. On January 4, the Telki Dere river rapidly rose, overflowing its banks near the village stadium and flooding yards and ground-floor levels of homes. Significant property damage has been reported. More details on the flooding are available here.
FORECAST
“We can expect icy days – throughout the country, but especially in Northeastern Bulgaria,” climatologist Professor Georgi Rachev told bTV.
“It will get colder, especially in the lowlands. Perhaps Friday and Saturday it will get a little cold in the early morning, but temperatures, especially in Western Bulgaria, will be slightly above zero, which is nothing for this time of year,” he said.
Rachev added there is a possibility of more snow on Monday, but cautioned that it is not certain. “We are more likely to see the next weather system between January 2nd and 5th,” he said, adding that it is still too far out to predict with certainty. “In any case, I promise very good weather for winter sports for the New Year,” he said, referring to the mountains where snow is expected to accumulate.
Low temperatures are expected to persist in Sofia in the coming days.
If you want to support independent and quality journalism in “Sega”,
you can make a donation via PayPal
