Sofia (/ˈsoʊfiə/) (Bulgarian: София) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. Its history spans 2,400 years.
The city is located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the western part of the country. It occupies a strategic position at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.
Sofia is the 15th largest city in the European Union with population of around 1.3 million people. It has been ranked by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a Beta− city. Many of the major universities, cultural institutions and commercial companies of Bulgaria are concentrated in Sofia.
Sofia has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with an average annual temperature of 10.6 °C (51.1 °F).
Winters are cold and snowy. In the coldest days temperatures can drop as low as −15 °C (5 °F) or even lower, most notably in January and February. The lowest recorded temperature was −25 °C (−13 °F) (February 8, 2006). Fog is not unusual, especially in the beginning of the season. On average, Sofia receives a total snowfall of 100 cm (39.4 in) and 60 days with snow cover. The snowiest recorded winter was 1995/1996 with a total snowfall of 171 cm (67.3 in). The record snow depth is 57 cm (22.4 in) (December 25, 2001).
Summers are warm and sunny. In summer, the city generally remains slightly cooler than other parts of Bulgaria, due to its higher altitude. However, the city is also subjected to heat waves with high temperatures reaching or exceeding 35 °C (95 °F) in the hottest days, particularly in July and August. The highest recorded temperature was 41 °C (106 °F) (July 5, 2000 and July 24, 2007). The hottest recorded summer was in 2012 with a daily average July temperature of 24.8 °C (76.6 °F).
Springs and autumns in Sofia are relatively short with variable and dynamic weather.
The city receives an average precipitation of 581.8 mm (22.91 in) a year, reaching its peak in late spring and early summer when thunderstorms are not uncommon. The wettest recorded year was 2014 with a total precipitation of 1,066.6 mm (41.99 in).
—
Source: Wikipedia: Sofia
