Climate in Turkey

Turkey is a country with great diversity in both geography and climate. Since it is surrounded by four seas on three sides, and the country’s landscape is formed by mountains, the Turkish weather varies significantly from region to region. The country is loosely divided into three climatic zones: Black Sea, Mediterranean and continental. In the winter, in the east of the country, the air temperature can drop to −40°C, while on the west coast, closer to the sea, it does not fall below 8°C — 10°C.

Climate in Turkey by region

The territory of Turkey is formally divided into 81 provinces (ils), while unofficially the country consists of 7 geographical regions:

• Mediterranean region (Akdeniz Bölgesi);
• Aegean region (Ege Bölgesi);
• Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi);
• Eastern Anatolia (Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi);
• Central Anatolia (İç Anadolu Bölgesi);
• Southeastern Anatolia (Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi);
• Black Sea region (Karadeniz Bölgesi).

In the Mediterranean region of Turkey, the tourist season begins in May and ends in mid-autumn. Here is the hottest summer in the country: in July, the average temperature maximum is 34°C. Even in January, the air temperature can stay at around 15°C.

The coast and inland region are separated by mountains, so the climate between these parts is quite different: near the sea it is still Mediterranean, while on the territories beyond the mountains the climate is continental. In the Mediterranean climate, summers are usually dry and hot (27°C — 28°C), and winters are mild and rainy (8°C — 10°C). This is the region with the most number of sunny days in the country, which is ideal for growing plants and vegetables. Tourists usually visit Antalya and its surrounding resorts: Side, Kemer, Alanya, Kas and Mersin.

The Aegean region has the longest coastline in the country. It is also the second region of Turkey in terms of population density. The landscape changes from flat coastal one in the west to mountainous in the east, and the climate changes from Mediterranean (for 150-200 kilometres) to steppe inland. The average temperature maximum in the summer is 32°C, and the coldest month of the year is January, when the temperature stays at an average of 13°C.

In December, there are a lot of rains, so it is best to avoid visiting the region during this month. And in the summer the most popular resorts are Bodrum, Kusadasi, Fethiye and Marmaris. Tourists are attracted by Izmir, the capital of the Aegean region and the third largest city in Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus and Troy — two of the oldest cities in Turkey — are also located here.

The Marmara region is the most densely populated region in Turkey. It has the minimum height above sea level, although there are mountains up to 2500 metres high. Due to the landscape and high moisture content of the soil, the largest amount of land in the country is cultivated in this region. There are three types of climate here: Mediterranean — on the coast of the Sea of Marmara and in the south; continental — in the inland region; and Black Sea — on the northern coast.

Eastern Anatolia is the largest region of Turkey with the lowest population density, as it mainly consists of the steppe. The region is famous for its mountains and lakes. Both the highest mountain of the country, Mount Ararat (5137 metres) and the largest Lake Van are located here. The region has a harsh continental climate, which is typical for the inland territory. Winters here are severe and long, the air temperature can drop to −40°C; and summers are short, but not hot, with the average air temperature of around 20°C. This type of climate is known for its sharp changes in day and night temperatures.

Central Anatolia borders on all other regions of Turkey except South Anatolia. The region is located on a plateau inside the highlands at an altitude of 1100 metres, which simultaneously makes it the driest region of the country and one of the most cultivated ones (second only to the Marmara region).

The region has harsh fluctuations between seasons, inherent to the steppe climate: in the winter the temperature can range from 0°C to −30°C; in the summer the average air temperature is 23°C — 24°C. Tourists are attracted here by the Phrygian Salt Lake with pink flamingos and the famous Cappadocia with underground cities and hot air balloons. Ankara, the capital of Turkey, is also located here.

Southeastern Anatolia is located on a flat plain. This contributes to the natural cultivation of pistachios, rice, cotton and sesame, as well as the breeding of sheep and angora goats. Another benefit of the plain is the low risk of earthquakes, although there are few people living here. Winters are rainy, and summers are dry and hot, which makes it harder to water the plants. The climate in the region is a mixture of Mediterranean and steppe. The coldest month here is January with a maximum air temperature of 10°C. In the summer, the air temperature reaches 36°C, with July being the hottest month of the year.

The Black Sea region stretches from west to east along the coast. It is the most forested region of Turkey, with mountains forming the landscape in the east. On the coast, maritime climate prevails, while the inland region has continental climate. The region has cool summers (23°C — 24°C) and warm winters (5°C — 7°C). It rains a lot every season, so the region has the minimum number of sunny days in all of Turkey.

Regions of Turkey with a continental climate

Due to the mild climate, the coastal areas of Turkey are often called the Turkish Riviera. This is not the case with the Black Sea region, as well as eastern and inland parts of Turkey. Here a continental climate with its hot summers and frosty winters prevails. This type of climate contributes to the development of beach and sightseeing tourism in the country, as well as to the popularity of ski resorts. The largest of them are Erciyes Kayseri in Central Anatolia and Palandoken in Eastern Anatolia.

In regions with a continental climate, the ground is covered in snow 120 days a year, and in the highlands the snow falls even in the summer. In regions such as Alanya, there are two different types of tourist attractions: you can spend a wonderful beach holiday by the seaside, and then go skiing in the mountainous areas. Thanks to the artificial snowing of the slopes, the ski season in Turkey lasts from December to April.

Weather on the Turkish coasts by season

Let us take a closer look at the weather on the coasts of the main resort regions of Turkey: the Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara. Here the sun shines 300 days a year, which is one of the reasons for the regions’ popularity among tourists and those who buy property in Turkey for living.

Turkish Weather in the spring

In March, spring begins in Turkey, but a beach season is still a faraway notion even on the Mediterranean coast of Antalya. The air during the day warms up only to 20°C. In April, the beach season finally opens on the Antalya coast: in Antalya, Side, Belek, Kemer and Alanya the air warms up to 25°C during the day, while the sea water temperature is 18°C. In May, the weather becomes much more pleasant on the Aegean coast, followed by the Marmara region.

The weather in Turkey in the spring is best for sightseeing tours and trips, which will be less comfortable to visit in the following months due to the summer heat. For example, you can go to Pamukkale and Cappadocia. Late spring is suitable for travelling to modern Istanbul and ancient Izmir.

Turkish Weather in the summer

The weather in Turkey in the summer is ideal for a beach holiday. In all resort regions, there are only a few rainy days during the summer. The duration of a daylight time is about 14 hours, and the longest days are in July, when the sky is clear and cloudless for about 10 hours a day.

In July and August, the sea in the Marmara region warms up to 23°C, in the Mediterranean — up to 28°C, and in the Aegean — up to 25°C. There are more than 100 Blue Flag beaches on these coasts, so swimming here is quite pleasurable. Both locals and tourists are engaged in yachting, diving and snorkelling in the summer.

Turkish Weather in the autumn

Turkey is known for its velvet season, which takes place in September and October. The weather in Turkey in the autumn is not as hot as in the summer, but the sea has not yet had a chance to cool down. The longest swimming season is in the Mediterranean region: you can swim in the sea until mid-October. In the Aegean region — in Bodrum, Marmaris, and Fethiye — the sea water temperature is comfortable for swimming until the end of September. The Marmara region ends its swimming season earlier than any other region, because in September the weather here becomes windy and strong waves appear on the sea surface.

Turkish Weather in the winter

The average winter temperature in the Marmara region is 8°C, in the Aegean — 10°C, in the Mediterranean — 11°C. The coldest month of the year is January. The shortest days are in December, when the average daylight time is 9.5 hours. In the Mediterranean region, winter is the rainy season, with the most rainfall taking place from November to March.

On the bright side, the mountains are covered with snow for six months of the year, so in the winter tourists flock to various ski resorts, for example, near Antalya. In the Aegean region, winters are mild and there are few tourists here at this time, so the time from December to February is the best for a relaxing holiday in Turkey. The Marmara winters are cold and long; and in Istanbul it often snows during the winter.

Average temperature in Turkey by month

The peak tourist season is from late May to mid-September. The hottest months in Turkey are July and August. Swimming in the Sea of Marmara is best from June to early September, and in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas — from April to October. The sea water temperature in the resorts in the summer is around 25°C — 29°C. The ski season in these areas lasts from mid-December to mid-April.

Precipitation in Turkey

The Black Sea region is considered the rainiest region of Turkey; it rains here 95 days a year on average. The Marmara region and Eastern Anatolia are next in terms of rainfall. Southeastern Anatolia has the driest weather in the country, with rain falling on average only 70 days a year.

The greatest number of cloudy and rainy days in Turkey is in February, and the greatest number of sunny days is in August. In the inland regions of the country, far away from coastal resorts, forest fires sometimes occur at the end of summer due to the drought season. In the case of especially large fires, haze can reach the coast, but this is an extremely rare occurrence.

In the Marmara and Aegean regions, January is the rainiest month, while August is the driest.

Should you fear the wildlife of Turkey?

The nature of Turkey is rich and diverse not only in terms of vegetation and animals, but also in terms of insects, the most annoying of them being mosquitoes. That being said, the mosquitoes in Turkey do not carry any dangerous diseases, and they can be easily fend off with repellents.

In Turkey, as in most warm countries, dangerous arachnids are found: poisonous spiders such as black widow and tarantula, scorpions and ticks. But they are almost non-existent in tourist resorts, since their area of distribution is located in the inland of the country and along the southeast coast. Fortunately, the same can be said about snakes. There are 45 species of snakes in Turkey; and although a third of them are poisonous (the most dangerous being a blunt-nosed viper), the snakes prefer the mountainous regions, far from cities and settlements.

In the water, you can sometimes meet typical marine life, such as jellyfish and sea urchins, which are not difficult to notice in the water in advance. If you encounter a jellyfish and get a burn, there is no need for panic: most of the species in the local bays are not poisonous. However, it is still best to have a doctor look at the burn.

The risks of meeting dangerous wildlife in Turkey are not high, but in the rare case of a bite, you should immediately consult a doctor. Contrary to popular belief, Turkey has well-developed healthcare and modern clinics, where they will always provide qualified assistance in case of emergency.

What are the natural phenomena in Turkey?

Most natural hazards in Turkey occur in the winter: snowfalls and avalanches, sea storms, frosts, hail and landslides. Turkey can hardly scare off tourists from the CIS countries, Russia or Northern Europe with its winters, as frosts and snowfalls are not so strong here. During storms, snowstorms and avalanches, it is important to follow the directives of the authorities: do not go to the open sea and do not climb the mountains during the threat of natural disasters.

Some natural disasters in Turkey can also be encountered in the summer: from May to August, floods occur in regions with a continental climate, and forest fires can happen from August to October. Sandstorms periodically occur from December to May in areas near the Karapinar desert and along the border with Iraq and Syria.

It is also worth assessing the risks of earthquakes in different regions of Turkey. In Southeastern Anatolia, the risk is the lowest due to the fact that this region is located on a stable plateau. However, many other regions of the country are seismically active zones where rock movements can sometimes occur.

To protect residents from the danger of an earthquake, the Turkish authorities have implemented and periodically update earthquake resistance standards. During the construction of buildings, these standards are observed just as strictly as fire safety standards. For example, in regions with the highest level of seismic activity, the building cannot be more than 3 storeys in height. All new residential buildings are being built according to the earthquake resistance standard of 8 points on the Richter scale, while renovation is gradually being carried out in old quarters.

Additionally, compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) was introduced in Turkey. The cost of this insurance is calculated depending on the structure of the building and on the seismic activity in the region. The government takes the problem of earthquakes in Turkey very seriously and allocates significant budgetary funds to ensure the safety of residents.

Largely due to its climatic conditions, Turkey has become a favourite holiday destination for hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. The climate of Turkey was formed under the influence of a variety of natural conditions: in addition to beaches, there are glaciers, and snow-capped mountain peaks, as well as arid steppes and dense forests. Every season attracts many tourists to Turkey. At different times of the year, you can ski from the mountain slopes, go on scenic boat trips, sunbathe on the beach and swim in the four seas, visit natural landmarks, ancient cities and many other attractions.

Author: Aleksandra Savina