A powerful heat wave from Africa has left temperatures in Istanbul close to 40 degrees Celsius in recent days, while in other regions of Turkey thermometers are approaching 45 degrees Celsius, triggering wildfire risk and health hazards. And meteorologists warn: the worst of the heat is yet to come.
In Istanbul, temperatures reached 36 degrees Celsius in the shade at midday today, as city residents and tourists tried to protect themselves from the sun and heat as best they could, whether using umbrellas, lying in the shade in parks, gardens and mosques, or trying to cool off with water, as was seen in the central Taksim Square, where some shopkeepers helped each other by pouring water on their heads, according to news agencies and media such as NTV.
Many stray animals, from dogs to cats, also struggled to cope with the high temperatures and many sought relief by diving into ornamental fountains . “The temperature you feel on the street is 35 to 40 degrees, but when you come in here, it reaches 80 to 100 degrees,” said a kebab vendor in Istanbul. “The heat is scorching. We try to fight the heat by helping each other, pouring water on each other. There is nothing we can do. If we think about global warming, there is no doubt that the weather will get even hotter,” he said.
According to data from the Turkish State Meteorological Service recently published in the Turkish press, June was the driest month in Istanbul in 65 years. While the average rainfall in recent decades in the Marmara region – where Istanbul is located – is 41.5 mm, last June was only 2.4 mm, 94% less than normal, and even lower than the 3.4 mm recorded in June 2024, a particularly warm year. If we look at Istanbul alone, the rainfall recorded in June was even lower than in the whole region, reaching only 0.5 mm.
As for the heatwave, meteorologists warn that the worst is yet to come. The peak is expected to be reached tomorrow, when temperatures could reach a maximum of 38ºC in the shade, reaching 40ºC in Izmir and around 45ºC in areas of southeastern Turkey such as Urfa and Gaziantep.
VOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM
🧿 About us
.
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.
…
📣 Your ADVERTISING on Hispanatolia
.
🤗 HELP US WITH A DONATION:
💗 Paypal
