Istanbul experiences its driest summer in recent years

According to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology, summer precipitation in Turkey has decreased significantly compared to the long-term average. While the average summer rainfall between 1991 and 2020 was recorded at 64 millimeters, only 30 millimeters of rain fell this year. Last year, this figure was 58.4 millimeters.

The decrease in summer rainfall reached its lowest levels in 65 years in the Marmara and Black Sea regions, while the Aegean Region recorded its lowest rainfall in the last 16 years. A similar decline was observed in the Mediterranean and Central Anatolia regions.

In the Marmara, Aegean, and Southeastern Anatolia regions, as well as a large part of the Western Black Sea section, the decrease in rainfall exceeded 80 percent. In provinces such as Çanakkale, Bilecik, İzmir, and Istanbul in particular, rainfall decreased by 93, 92, 91, and 90 percent respectively compared to normal levels.

This summer, rainfall amounts remained below normal in all provinces except Trabzon. Cities such as Amasya, Bartın, Bursa, Düzce, Edirne, Karabük, Kastamonu, Kocaeli, Malatya, Sakarya, Sinop, Tekirdağ, Yalova, and Zonguldak also experienced their lowest summer rainfall in 65 years.

In Denizli, the south and west of Muğla, and the surroundings of Mersin and Karaman, local increases in rainfall amounts were observed. However, the general picture shows that a serious drought is being experienced in a large part of Turkey.

News Source: 12punto