Climate - Kardzhali (Bulgaria)

The climate of Kardzhali (or Kurdjali) is slightly continental, with cold winters and hot summers.
The city is located in southern Bulgaria, at an altitude of 240 meters or 785 feet (but the weather station is at 330 meters or 1,080 feet).
We are in an area subject to clashes between Mediterranean and Balkan air masses, which can give rise to strong winds.
In winter, there are some mild periods, with highs of 15 °C (59 °F) and more. However, there can also be cold periods, characterized by snowfalls, and even cold waves, during which the temperature can drop to as low as -15 °C (5 °F). The coldest record is -21 °C (-6 °F), recorded in January 1963.
Summer is hot and sunny, with a few thunderstorms.
Nights are usually quite cool, but during the day it can get very hot, with highs of 37 °C (98.5 °F) or more. The record is 43 °C (109.5 °F), recorded in July 2007. Previously, the temperature had risen to 42 °C (107.5 °F) in August 1994 and 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) in July 2000.

Best Time

The best times to visit Kardzhali are spring and autumn, namely from mid-May to mid-June, a period when some afternoon thunderstorms must be put into account, and from mid-September to mid-October, a period a bit cooler but also drier. In summer, the heat is sometimes bearable, while at other times, especially in July and August, it can be intense.

Kardzhali - Climate data

In Kardzhali, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 2.3 °C (36.1 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Kardzhali, precipitation amounts to 670 millimeters (26.4 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest month (August) to 80 mm (3.1 in) in the wettest one (December). Here is the average precipitation.
In Kardzhali, there are on average around 2325 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Kardzhali - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2018

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Kardzhali is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.3 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -2.3 °C (27.8 °F) and a maximum of 6.9 °C (44.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C (12.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17 °C (1.4 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In February, the weather in Kardzhali is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.0 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of -1.1 °C (30 °F) and a maximum of 9 °C (48.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17.2 °C (1 °F) in February 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In March, the weather in Kardzhali is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) and a maximum of 12.7 °C (54.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 26.9 °C (80.4 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In April, the weather in Kardzhali is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.0 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.2 °C (17.2 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.

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In May, the weather in Kardzhali is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.7 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.1 °C (73.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 0.7 °C (33.3 °F) in May 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) in May 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.

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In June, the weather in Kardzhali is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.8 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.1 °F) and a maximum of 27.7 °C (81.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.

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In July, the weather in Kardzhali is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 16 °C (60.8 °F) and a maximum of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) in July 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 43.2 °C (109.8 °F) in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Kardzhali is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.5 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 15.9 °C (60.7 °F) and a maximum of 31 °C (87.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.6 °C (47.5 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.

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In September, the weather in Kardzhali is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.9 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 25.9 °C (78.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.6 °C (34.9 °F) in September 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 37.6 °C (99.7 °F) in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.

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In October, the weather in Kardzhali is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (66.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -3.4 °C (25.9 °F) in October 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.

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In November, the weather in Kardzhali is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.3 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.5 °C (14.9 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (72 °F). However, it reached 26.1 °C (79 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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In December, the weather in Kardzhali is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.6 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -0.8 °C (30.5 °F) and a maximum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.2 °C (2.8 °F) in December 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 21.6 °C (70.9 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.