Istanbul remains under the threat of torrential rain after experiencing the heaviest rainfall in 83 years. Following two days of heavy downpours that caused severe floods – leaving, according to the latest reports, four people dead and three missing – the authorities have issued a new weather alert as rainfall is forecast to continue until Monday and is expected to be particularly heavy this Saturday.
The effects of the terrible storm that has battered the city for two days, bringing the heaviest downpours in 83 years, are still being felt, whilst attention is focused on finding out when the rain will begin to ease. Turkey’s General Directorate of Meteorology has published a new forecast for Istanbul – where 186 litres of rain per square metre fell in just 24 hours – and, according to reports in the Turkish media, the sky will remain very cloudy and the rain will continue throughout today, Saturday.
Maximum temperatures of 14 °C are expected in the city, with heavy rain during the middle of the day in the northern districts and, later in the evening, in the European side of Istanbul.
The storm will continue until Monday
The Disaster Coordination Centre of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (AKOM) reiterated its warnings regarding the persistent spell of cold and rain, stating in a press release: “The cold and rainy weather system is expected to affect our region until the start of next week (Monday), with temperatures ranging between 15 and 17 °C, below seasonal averages, and intermittent heavy showers are forecast, with very heavy rain in some places”.
The General Directorate of Meteorology has also issued a warning regarding the conditions forecast for Turkey as a whole; according to its forecast, skies will be mostly cloudy, with intermittent showers and thunderstorms expected in all regions, except for Izmir, Manisa, Aydın and Şanlıurfa.
Rainfall could be particularly heavy in the western Black Sea region, the eastern Mediterranean, the coastal areas of Kırklareli province, northern Balıkesir, Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara, Kırşehir, Kırıkkale, Çankırı and Çorum. In addition, airborne dust is forecast for the south-eastern region of Anatolia.
Weather warnings for adverse conditions in several provinces
The Minister for the Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, also issued a public warning regarding the adverse weather conditions and confirmed that heavy rain will continue in Istanbul.
Kurum announced the activation of an orange weather alert for the Asian side of the city, as well as in Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli and Yalova. A yellow alert has also been issued for a further 36 provinces. Kurum urged the public to take every precaution in light of the risks associated with the storm.
The minister assured that both his department and the relevant authorities had taken all necessary measures; however, he emphasised the importance of public cooperation: “It is of the utmost importance that our citizens also take care. Please heed the weather warnings and stay away from situations that may pose a risk”.
Over 600 people rescued following floods in Istanbul
For its part, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) confirmed that both the Turkish metropolis and a large part of the country are under the influence of a cold air mass originating in the Balkans and rain systems arriving from the central Mediterranean.
In a statement, the Istanbul Municipality explained that the rainfall – which began on Tuesday morning – has continued uninterrupted, and that in the districts near the Bosphorus and in the northern and central areas of the European side of Istanbul, between 130 and 278 litres of rain per square metre were recorded.
During the worst of the storm, municipal emergency teams rescued and evacuated 622 people who were trapped in various parts of the city due to the heavy rainfall.
Istanbul City Council also warned that the rainfall, which continued intermittently throughout Friday, will intensify on Saturday. The weather forecast specifically predicts very heavy rainfall in the districts of Beykoz, Sarıyer, Şile and Eyüp, as well as other parts of the city, with a consequent risk of further floods.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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