Millions across Türkiye face a sharp shift in weather this week, with localized summer showers expected Wednesday before a spell of extreme heat sweeps across the country from Friday.
The day begins mostly sunny nationwide, although early morning rain in Artvin in northeastern Türkiye signals changing conditions. By the afternoon, localized thunderstorms are expected along the eastern Black Sea coast and in inland parts of the Mediterranean around the Taurus Mountains.
Rain is also expected in parts of southern Türkiye, particularly Kahramanmaraş and Osmaniye, potentially affecting commuters and evening crowds. The showers remain short-lived, however, with skies expected to clear by nightfall and calmer weather prevailing across the country.
Although Türkiye's three major cities will see no rain for the next 5-days, temperatures vary significantly across the country. Istanbul is set to see partly cloudy and humid conditions, with temperatures ranging between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius (86-89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the week.
In Ankara, daytime temperatures are forecast to rise from 32 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees by the weekend. Izmir, in western Türkiye, is set to experience the most intense heat, with temperatures reaching 39 degrees on Friday and Saturday, while high humidity is expected to make conditions feel even more oppressive.
A scorching heatwave is set to engulf the country beginning on Friday. The Turkish State Meteorological Service's (MGM) 5-day weather maps are flooded with cautionary 'red thermometer' icons across the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Southeastern Anatolia regions.
Temperatures are expected to reach extremely critical levels of 41 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday, particularly in the western province of Aydın and the southeastern provinces of Şanlıurfa and Batman. This sweltering heatwave is forecast to continue unabated across the country's western and southern regions on Sunday.
Thermometers are expected to climb to the 41-43 degrees Celsius range in the western province of Aydın, the inland areas of southwestern Muğla, and the southeastern provinces of Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, and Batman. The heatwave, which will continue relentlessly through Sunday, will create a highly sweltering sensation when combined with high humidity levels, particularly in coastal areas.
Those planning a weekend getaway to the Aegean and southern coasts, or anyone spending time outdoors, must exercise extreme caution against this sudden temperature spike. It is vital to avoid direct sun exposure during midday hours and consume plenty of fluids to prevent heatstroke.
