Rare March Snow In Bulgaria; Albania Hit; Taiwan Mountains Blanketed As Polar Cold Descends; Unprecedented March Frosts Sweep Vietnam Peaks; + UK Energy Prices Have Tripled Because Of Climate Policies

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Rare March Snow In Bulgaria

Winter has returned to parts of Bulgaria, blanketing the Balkan Mountains with rare mid-March snow.

Significant snowfall has been recorded in key mountain passes, including Petrohan, Shipka, Rozhen, Prevala, and Pamporovo. Road crews are actively clearing routes, but severe winter conditions persist, making clearing efforts challenging.

Four snowplows are working the Petrohan Pass simultaneously, with a ban in place for heavy goods vehicles. Thermometers here were reading -7C (19F) midday Tuesday, challenging monthly records.

Snow-clearing teams are also constantly working the Shipka Pass, clearing the road every 30 minutes as snow and ice persist.

While Smolyan’s Governor, Adrian Petrov, reported stranded vehicles on the Prevala Pass.

Authorities urge continued caution.

Albania Hit

On Tuesday, mountainous areas of Albania saw unusual mid-March snowfall, with accumulations reaching 20 cm (7.9 inches) across the likes of Qafë-Thore.

Maintenance teams worked through the night to ensure key routes remained clear.​

Disruptive snow also hit Fushë-Arrëz and Qafë-Mali, with authorities informing residents to put the winter tires back on.

Mid-March snowfall of this magnitude is considered rare in these regions. In Shkodër, March typically sees minimal snowfall, if any, averaging just 4 mm (0.16 inches) — the recent accumulation of 20 cm (7.9 inches) are quite the anomaly.

Taiwan Mountains Blanketed As Polar Cold Descends

Taiwan's highest peaks, including Yushan, were hit by heavy snow Tuesday as a powerful polar air mass gripped the island.