The climate is transitional continental with a strong Mediterranean influence, due to air masses that enter from the south valley of the river Struma. The city is protected from cold northerly winds due to the natural barrier of the high hills of Rila massif and the village of Belo pole. Mountain breeze descends from Rila along the river Bistritsa bringing cool air during hot summer days. Wind is moderate - 1.6 meters per second. Thanks to the many mountain forests around the town and the lack of industrial pollution, the air is clean in Blagoevgrad. Winter is mild, brief and marked by little to no snowfall. The average temperature in January is 0.6 �C. Summers are long and dry, with a small amount of rainfall. The average July temperature is 23.4 �C and the maximum temperature measured in Blagoevgrad is 41.6 �C. The average annual temperature is approximately 12.6 �C
