Climate: Bulgaria has a continental climate, with cool and damp winters, very hot and dry summers, and Mediterranean influence along the Black Sea coast. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains influences climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria gets slightly cooler and receives more rain than the southern regions. The temperature can always remain under zero also for weeks in the months of December/January; while the summers are warm, the temperature exceeds easily 30°C, but remain cooler by the coast. Average temperatures during January vary from -2°C to 2°C in the valleys to – 10°C in the mountains. Average temperatures for June vary from 19°C-25°C in the valleys to 10°C in the high mountains. The driest areas are Dobrudzha and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the mountains Rila and Stara Planina receive the highest levels of precipitation. The capital Sofia, situated on a plain at 550 metres above sea level and ringed in by the Balkan and Vitosha Mountains, has summers days warm and sunny with temperatures occasionally soaring above 30ºC. Winters are cold and snowy. December and January are the coldest months and July and August are the hottest months. The capital receives 650 mm a year with most rain falling from April to August.
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