Winds Bring Heat to Bulgaria as Central Europe Chokes under Snow

Five temperature records were broken in Bulgaria Sunday, after high south winds brought warm air to the country in the midst of fall.

At the same time, a spell of cold and precipitation brought by so-called Cassandra cyclone poured early snow over much of Central Europe.

Three deaths from frostbite are already reported in Poland, where communications were disrupted and thousands remained without electricity.

Havoc was also wreaked in the neighboring Czech Republic, and as far south as Italy and Croatia.

In Bulgaria however, the weather change resulted in highs at some locations reaching summer values of around 25-30 degrees Centigrade.

Temperature records were marked for Ruse (26.8 C), Plovdiv (25.8 C), Montana (25.5), Vratsa (25 C), and Ahtopol (24.2 C).

The wind was especially strong in southern Bulgaria, with the Smolyan and Kardzhali regions being placed under code red for extremely dangerous weather, and the remaining southern regions under code orange.

Gusts at some locations reached 20 m/sec, and Bulgaria's main ports - in Varna and Burgas - closed all operations.

Bulgaria's National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology confirmed that rainfall in southern areas is as significant as predicted, reaching over 50 liters/ sq.m. in some locations.