Bulgaria issues code red alert for dangerously hot weather for all district in the country for July 17

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology has issued a code red alert for dangerously high temperatures for all districts in Bulgaria for July 17. Temperatures are forecast to be above 40 degrees per Celsius and in some places above 41 degrees. Tomorrow will be the 11th day of the heat wave, which has been the most intense so far. Code Red is the highest level of warning for hazardous weather and is being declared for the first time this summer.

The NIMH forecasters have also issued code red alert for very hot weather for today, July 16, but only in four districts - Veliko Turnovo, Russe, Pleven and Blagoevgrad. Maximum temperatures will be between 37° and 42°, in Sofia - around 37°.

By comparison, last summer, code red was issued for 25 and 26 July for temperatures between 40 and 43 degrees, and this year the first such warning was issued earlier. The absolute record and highest degrees measured in Bulgaria was 45.2 per Celsius in 1916 in Sadovo, Plovdiv district, Southern Bulgaria.

Because of the extremely high temperatures and dry weather, the risk of fires remains in effect.

However, the met office reassures that a breath of fresh air is coming. On Thursday, cumulus clouds will develop in the afternoon, but only in places in the northern and mountainous regions it will rain and thunder. Daytime temperatures there will be two or three degrees lower, but in southeastern areas will still be around 40 degress per Celsius and above.

On Friday and Saturday, cumulus and cumulus-rainy clouds will develop, and there will be brief showers, thunderstorms and hail in many places. In the eastern areas, winds will remain from the northeast, weak to moderate, and the rest of the country will be nearly calm or with a light northerly wind. Temperatures will fall slightly - by up to 2-3 degrees.

Experts remind to drink plenty of fluids, and spend at least three hours in air-conditioned rooms to allow our bodies to recover.