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Climate of
Turkey
Although Turkey is situated in large Mediterranean
geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate,
diverse nature of the landscape, and the existence in particular of the
mountains that run parallel to the coasts, result in significant
differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. While the
coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau
experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited
rainfall.
The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have cool, rainy
winters and hot, moderately dry summers. Annual precipitation in those
areas varies from 580 to 1,300 millimeters, depending on location. The
Black Sea coast receives the greatest amount of rainfall. The eastern part
of that receives 2,200 millimeters annually and is the only region of
Turkey that receives rainfall throughout the year.
Turkey's diverse regions have different climates because
of irregular topography. Taurus Mountains is close to the coast and rain
clouds cannot penetrate to the interior part of the country. Rain clouds
drops most of their water on the coastal area. As rain clouds pass over
the mountains and reach central Anatolia they have no significant
capability to produce of rain. In the Eastern region of Anatolia, the
elevation of mountains exceeds 2500-3000 m. Northern Black Sea Mountains
and Caucasian Mountain hold the rain clouds, and therefor the area is
affected by the continental climate with long and very cold winter.
Minimum temperatures of -30°C to -38°C are observed in the mountainous
areas in the east, and snow may lie on the ground 120 days of the year.
Winters are bitterly cold with frequent, heavy snowfall. Villages in thee
region remain isolated for several days during winter storms.
ANNUAL AVERAGE PRECIPITATION OF TURKEY
Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures above 30°C.
Spring and autumn are generally mild, but during both seasons sudden hot
and cold spells frequently occur in the region Annual precipitation
averages about 500-800 millimeters with actual amounts determined by
elevation.
LONG TERM MEAN TEMPERATURE OF TURKEY
In Istanbul and around the Sea of Marmara the climate is
moderate (winter 4°C and summer 27°C); In winter however the temperatures
can drop below zero. In Western Anatolia, there is a mild Mediterranean
climate with average temperatures of 9°C in winter and 29°C in summer. On
the southern coast of Anatolia the similar climatic condition are
observed. The climate of the Anatolian Plateau is a steppe climate. There
is a great temperature difference between day and night. Rainfall is low
but it usually in form of snow. The average temperature is 23°C in summer
and -2°C in winter. The climate in the Black Sea area is wet, and humid
(summer 23°C, winter 7°C). In Eastern Anatolia and South-Eastern Anatolia
there is a long winter, and snow remains on the ground from November until
the end of April (the average temperature in winter is -13°C and in summer
17°C).
The driest regions are the Karaman, Iğdır and Şanlıurfa,
where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300 millimeters. The wettest
regions are the Black Sea coastal region where annual rainfall can reach
2,200 millimeters annually, and the region receives rainfall throughout
the year.
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