Bulgaria awoke Monday morning buried in snow with the mercury far below zero and numerous reports of electricity blackouts or telephone cuts.

The traffic in the Bulgarian capital Sofia is currently impeded, as only major arteries have been cleaned up. The district mayors have the task of reporting the traffic situation to mayor Yordanka Fandakova 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 region near the Danube town of Russe is one of the hardest-hit with cars, trucks and buses stranded in the snow.

It is raining in the regions of Shumen, Dobrich, Varna and Burgas. The Hemus and Trakia highways are wet and snowy, with some icy patches in exposed areas such as viaducts.

The mountain pass from Troyan - Karnare – Elena is closed, with a diversion in operation through Vratnik pass, as is the road between Etropole - Zlatica and Varbitsa - Sungurlare.

Trucks with trailers or over 10 tons are banned on the Shipka pass. Similar prohibitions have been applied to the Petrohan pass, the road between Sliven and Ichera, and in the areas of Dospat and Ardino. All vehicles travelling in these areas should be fitted with snow chains.

The Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Service has announced there is a high risk of avalanches in all mountain areas, and that skiing or snowboarding outside designated areas is dangerous.

At Aleko Hut, the depth of snow is 70 cm. Mount Musala is covered by cloud, and there is a moderate wind. In Borovets, the snow cover is 55 cm. Bansko is also affected, and there is a high risk of avalanche off-piste. Both Rozhen and Botev peaks are fog-bound, with moderate winds.

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