The Bulgarian capital awoke Saturday morning in a snowy fairytale, the mercury falling below zero. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
The Bulgarian capital awoke Saturday morning in a snowy fairytale, the mercury falling below zero.
The traffic in Sofia is currently impeded, as the roads are not cleared yet. The district mayors have the task of reporting the traffic situation to mayor Boyko Borisov and even though the roads will be more or less cleared soon, drivers have been advised to be extra careful because they will remain slippery.
Pedestrians will not be so lucky - walking through the capital early morning is quite like traversing an untrodden mountain path, for sidewalks still haven't been cleaned.
The weekend brought scattered rain showers throughout Bulgaria. The lowest temperatures - between 5-7C below zero - will be recorded in Northeastern Bulgaria and in the plains at higher altitudes.
Tvarditsa-Elena, Etropole-Zlatitsa and Pepublica passes have been closed due to poor weather conditions.
Temperatures are expected to start rising as early as Saturday afternoon with highs set at between 3 and 8C.
Bulgaria woke up to its first snowfall on October 21, one of the earliest in recent years with a snow cover reported at six centimetres in Vratsa and seven in Dragoman in western Bulgaria.
The weather forecasters have warned that Bulgarians should brace themselves for a colder-than-usual winter, with temperatures rarely above the freezing point between December and February.
It remains to be seen whether this year, just like any other, authorities in Bulgaria will be "surprised" by the weather and be unprepared when it comes to having the snow removal machinery ready.