The tropical storm warning issued for Turkey's western Aegean region was extended to Istanbul as authorities expect heavy rainfall in the country's most populous city.
The rare hurricane – dubbed medicane or "Zorba" in Greece – formed in the central Mediterranean and is projected to move northeastward to southern Greece and the Aegean island of Crete before hitting the Turkish mainland.
The Turkish State Meteorological Service (TSMS) said late Friday that sudden heavy rainfall of 50 to 100 kilograms per square meters is expected in Istanbul on Sunday, urging its 15 million citizens to prepare for flash floods. Similar warnings were also issued for Thracian provinces of Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ.
Current assessments show that the storm will hit Izmir, Aydın, Manisa, Balıkesir and Çanakkale provinces that have a coastline on the Aegean Sea on Sunday at a speed of 100-120 kilometers per hour (61-74 mph). In addition to destructive winds, heavy rainfall of 100 kilograms or more per square meters is expected. Coastal cities and towns have also been warned about a likely rise in sea levels.
The provincial crews of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) have been put on alert and all employees were recalled for duty.
Municipalities have set up crisis desks and warned the public to be cautious as the storm approaches. People are asked to stay indoors on Sunday and Monday, strengthen their roofs and remove objects that could fall from their buildings and balconies.
In Izmir, crews checked rainwater drains and installed steel reinforcements around big trees to prevent them from being knocked over by the expected powerful storm.
Businesses in Izmir's famous Kordon seafront, which is prone to sea flooding amid strong westerly winds, have begun installing sandbags to minimize damages.
Amateur football matches scheduled until Monday have been canceled in the province, along with neighboring Balıkesir. The fate of the top tier Turkish Super League match between Göztepe and visitors Konyaspor scheduled for Saturday will be determined on the match day.
In resort towns of Kuşadası and Didim, authorities suspended boats from leaving ports until further notice.
Across the Aegean, Greek authorities warned that waves could reach up to 11 meters between the region of Peloponnese in the Greek mainland and Crete. The Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean and central Attica province are also expected to be hit by the storm.
Northern Greece and northwestern Turkey were hit by a separate northerly storm this week, causing a sharp drop in temperatures and affecting transportation to Aegean islands. The storm named "Xenophon" in Greece and known as "chestnut storm" by locals in Turkey subsided by Friday morning.
