Bulgaria experienced its warmest autumn in the past 15 years and the rainiest since 2015, according to a regular seasonal report published by the national meteorological bureau.
The findings refer to meteorological autumn, defined as the three-month period from September 1 to November 30. Astronomical autumn, which began on September 22 with the equinox, continues until December 21.
Meteorologists reported that average daily temperatures were above normal throughout most of September and November. October, by contrast, was marked by temperatures that were generally around or below seasonal norms.
The highest maximum temperature during the period was recorded on September 3, when the thermometer reached 37.2 degrees Celsius in the southern town of Radnevo, underscoring the lingering summer heat.
At the other extreme, minimum temperatures dropped sharply in October. Dragoman, in western Bulgaria, recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius on October 10, the lowest minimum at a settlement weather station.
In the mountains, winter conditions arrived even earlier. The lowest temperature of the season was minus 12 degrees Celsius, measured on Musala Peak on November 25.
September and November ranked among the warmest respective months of the past 15 years, while October 2025 was the coldest October Bulgaria has experienced in the last four years, according to the report.
Rainfall patterns were equally striking. The total amount of precipitation recorded in autumn 2025 exceeded climatic norms across most of the country, contributing to saturated soils and localized flooding.
The single highest daily rainfall was measured on October 3 in the village of Kosti, in the Bourgas district, where 250 millimetres of rain fell within 24 hours.
September 2025 was the driest September since 2022, highlighting sharp month-to-month contrasts. October, however, became the rainiest October ever recorded in Bulgaria, with comparable data stretching back to 1930.
November rainfall levels ranged from normal to above normal, extending the wet conditions and delaying fieldwork in many agricultural regions.
Agrometeorological conditions deteriorated rapidly in early October as cool and unstable weather dominated much of the country. The sudden shift caught farmers off guard during a critical harvest period.
During the first days of the month, minimum temperatures ranged from plus 2 to minus 2 degrees Celsius. Frosts were recorded in the higher plains and in extreme western areas.
As a result, part of the unharvested vegetable crop, including tomatoes and peppers, was lost. Farmers reported visible damage to sensitive produce left in the fields.
Additional losses followed untimely falls of wet snow in early October. The snow caused physical damage to perennial crops, including orchards and vineyards in higher-altitude regions.
Heavy rainfall throughout October further complicated agricultural activity. In districts such as Sofia, Pleven, Lovech, Veliko Turnovo, Razgrad, Rousse, Pazardzhik, Stara Zagora and Bourgas, precipitation exceeded climatic norms by two to three times.
The excessive rainfall led to high moisture levels in upper soil layers. Meteorologists said these conditions rendered most days unsuitable for pre-sowing cultivation and sowing of winter cereals.
As a consequence, agrotechnical deadlines for sowing wheat in October were missed in most parts of the country. Exceptions were limited areas in the Danube Plain and some eastern regions.
The autumn of 2025, meteorologists noted, reflects a broader trend of increasing climate variability, combining prolonged warmth with sudden cold spells and extreme rainfall events that challenge both infrastructure and agriculture across Bulgaria.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members