The blizzards, which hit hard Bulgaria, blocking highways and leaving thousands of people without electricity, will be tailing off only to be replaced by polar cold next week.

The country is expected to witness an historic cold snap over the next week, recording a wind chill of 20 degrees Celsius below zero, according to TV-MET forecasts.

In the early mornings the mercury is expected to plunge on average to 13-18 degrees Celsius below zero, particularly in western Bulgaria. Highs will remain unusually low throughout the week, hovering about 6 degrees below zero.

The freezing cold will create hazardous driving conditions along the icy mountain roads and will force authorities to close many.

The mountainous towns of Gabrovo, Smolyan, Chepelare will be the hardest hit cold-gripped regions.

Friday may bring some respite, but weathermen give no guarantees as the air fronts over the continent are very dynamic.

Bulgaria was thrown into chaos during the first days of the new year as heavy snow and torrential rains cut off electricity, stranded people, cars, buses and trucks.

Cold weather and heavy snow are believed to have caused the death of three men in a mountainous region near the town of Smolyan, Southern Bulgaria, at the beginning of January, and one elderly man in Sofia this week.

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