The summer of 2024 (June 1 – August 31) was the hottest and one of the driest in Bulgaria since the beginning of the century. This is according to an analysis by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH).
Drought, fires, poor harvests for many crops were just some of the profound societal problems of the past 3 months. NIMH’s analysis can be considered scientific confirmation that climate is one of the causes.
TEMPERATURES
The average seasonal temperature was above the climatic norm. Also average temperatures on a daily basis throughout the summer, excluding individual days. The highest measured degrees at NIMH stations in populated areas was 42.2 degrees (Sandansky on July 16).
June is the warmest since 1930, and July is nearly as warm as July 2012, the warmest on record. August is also one of the warmest.
Seasonal precipitation in most of the country was below or near normal. The largest negative deviations were observed in Northern Bulgaria, the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, the Upper Thracian Plain and the extreme southeastern regions of the country.
The drought was most pronounced in different periods in Northwestern Bulgaria, the Black Sea coast, the Danube plain and the Upper Thracian lowland.
EXTREME EVENTS
Of the extreme events, the June 12-14 hailstorm, which varies in size from a hazelnut to an egg, is interesting. The situation was worst in the village of Sheremetya, Velikotarnovsko. Also curious is the phenomenon of “upwelling” – rising of deep sea waters to the coast, leading to a sharp drop in water temperature. It was observed several times in June near Capes Kaliakra, Galata, then all along the coast. Upwelling also occurred between August 2 and 4.
#Summer #hottest #beginning #century
