Climate in Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

The climate of Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, is continental, with cold winters and hot summers.
The city is located in the Thracian plain, the southern plain of Bulgaria, and is exposed to both cold waves in winter and heat waves in summer.
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 -15 °C (5 °F) or below. From 1980 to 2020, the cold record is -23 °C (-9.5 °F), recorded in January 1993. In February 2012, the temperature dropped to -21 °C (6 °F).
Summer is hot and sunny, with a few thunderstorms.
The city is particularly exposed to heat waves. In the hottest periods, the temperature can reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). The record heat is 45 °C (113 °F), recorded in July 2000. The temperature also reached 43 °C (109.5 °F) in July 2007. In July 2000 and in July 2012, the average maximum was 35 °C (95 °F).

Best Time

The best times to visit Plovdiv 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.

Plovdiv - Climate data

In Plovdiv, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 1.3 °C (34.4 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 500 millimeters (19.7 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest month (January) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2340 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Plovdiv - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.3 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -3 °C (26.6 °F) and a maximum of 5.7 °C (42.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C (12 °F). However, it dropped to -23 °C (-9.4 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.6 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -1.4 °C (29.4 °F) and a maximum of 8.7 °C (47.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -21 °C (-5.8 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 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 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2 °C (35.5 °F) and a maximum of 13.7 °C (56.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (6.8 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 6 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 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6 °C (42.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.7 °C (65.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.1 °C (26.4 °F) in April 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 5 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 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11 °C (51.8 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in May 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15.2 °C (59.3 °F) and a maximum of 28.4 °C (83.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (42.8 °F) in June 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 41 °C (105.8 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 6 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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July is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.2 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) and a maximum of 31.2 °C (88.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °F) in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 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 55%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.2 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) and a maximum of 31.3 °C (88.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 41 °C (105.8 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 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 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.2 °C (79.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 3 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 60%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.7 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in October 1997.
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 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.7 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3 °C (37.4 °F) and a maximum of 12.5 °C (54.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9 °C (15.8 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 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 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.5 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -1.6 °C (29.1 °F) and a maximum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -19 °C (-2.2 °F) in December 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 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 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).