Astronomical spring began today at 16:46 Bulgarian time, when the Sun will be in the vernal equinox point in the constellation Pisces. From this moment until June 21, the Sun will rise higher and higher in the Northern celestial hemisphere and will illuminate the Northern hemisphere of the Earth more vertically.

According to physicist Pencho Markishki from the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the "Astronomy" department of the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University (SU) "St. Kliment Ohridski", when the Sun passes through the vernal or autumnal equinox point, it is located exactly on the celestial equator. "From this it follows that then the days and nights should have almost equal duration, hence the term "equinox", said Markishki.

From March 21, the day begins to increase and becomes longer than the night, reminded chief assistant Dr. Anastasia Stoycheva, director of the Department "Forecasts and Information Service" at the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH).

Spring forecast:

  • Temperatures: Average seasonal temperatures are expected to be around or above normal.
  • Precipitation: Seasonal precipitation amounts are expected to be around normal. There will be rainfall, but also snow, especially in the mountains.
  • Cooling: Temperatures below the climatic norms are expected in the period between April 6 and 13.
  • April: In April, it is normal to have temperatures above 20 degrees.

Dr. Stoycheva noted that in April, some of the largest amplitudes in the day are registered in Bulgaria. This means that there are low minimum temperatures and high maximum temperatures, which are above 20 degrees. Early in the morning, the temperature in April can be 0 degrees or 1-2 degrees, and during the day the temperature can become over 20 degrees.