Rozhen

Rain, mixed with sand particle, was witnessed today in Smolyan. Most likely, it is a colorful precipitation of sand from the Sahara, which is usually observed in the spring in the region, explained Rozhen Meteorological Station.

In the region of Rozhen during the day has also fallen light snow.

The state of emergency in Smolyan is still in place on 28th of January, but it is expected to be cancelled today after the situation in the region gradually gets back to normal, reports BNT. 

Traffic is one-way through Pamporovo ski resort. Cars are not allowed from Progled to the resort. Traffic from the town is redirected through the Rozhen pass.

Cold, snow and strong winds are forecast for the weekend. Code orange warning over snow and stormy winds is still in force for the Southeastern Bulgarian districts of Bourgas and Sliven. Winter conditions failed to cause serious problems on the roads, but in some places in the mountainous regions the snow drifts are large and cause difficulties, reports BNT. 

Today it will be cloudy over most of the country. Light rain is expected in Northern Bulgaria and the eastern regions, rain and snow in the Pre-Balkan region and Northeast Bulgaria.

Sandanski. Four people have been charged over the attempted robbery in the Rozhen Monastery, Blagoevgrad Regional Prosecutor's Office said. Two are adults, while the other two are 16 and 17 years old. They are charged with complicity in theft. A court hearing is scheduled for today.

Sofia. Unidentified thieves committed a robbery in the Rozhen Monastery last night, BNR has reported. The perpetrators were masked and armed. They tied the priest and took money and possibly church items. A search has been launched.

The astronomical winter will arrive in Bulgaria in the evening of Saturday, December 21, at 7:11 pm.

The time of the local arrival was announced by the Institute for Astronomy and the National Astronomical Lab on peak Rozhen at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BAS.

In the high mountain passes, weekends are expected to worsen, and in many places the rain is likely to turn into snow, the Road Infrastructure Agency (API) warned drivers, those who are going to travel in the next few days through the mountain passes should not go on the road with summer tires and must drive at a speed in accordance with weather conditions, the press agency of the road agency s