Warning from experts for Sunday! Temperatures to reach 42 degrees
The Aegean Region is coming under the influence of a heatwave originating from North Africa and desert dust over the weekend. Temperatures in İzmir, Aydın, and Manisa are expected to reach 41-42 degrees, with a sudden drop of 15 degrees expected on Monday. Experts point out that these extraordinary weather conditions are a reflection of climate change.
12punto
Rüştü Kırbaş, Deputy Regional Director of Meteorology, issued critical warnings regarding the heatwave expected to affect the Aegean Region this weekend. Temperatures in some districts of İzmir, Aydın, and Manisa are expected to rise 8-10 degrees above seasonal norms.
“Air temperatures will reach their peak, especially on Sunday. We expect temperatures to break records in inland areas.”
42 DEGREES EXPECTED IN SOME DISTRICTS
Kırbaş stated that temperatures will reach 41-42 degrees in districts such as Bayındır, Tire, and Torbalı in İzmir; inland parts of Aydın; and Ahmetli, Alaşehir, Gölmarmara, and Salihli in Manisa. It was stated that this increase could exceed the May measurement values of the last 90 years.
DESERT DUST DANGER IS AT THE DOOR
Emphasizing that desert dust will also be effective along with the heatwave, Kırbaş said that the southern and coastal areas, in particular, will be affected by this situation:
“The lodos (southwesterly wind) blowing from the south and southwest of Turkey is bringing a heatwave from North Africa along with desert dust.”
WARNING TO THE ELDERLY AND CHRONICALLY ILL
Rüştü Kırbaş gave important advice to citizens during the hot days that will last until Sunday:
“We recommend that our elderly citizens and those with chronic illnesses avoid direct exposure to the sun during the noon hours when the sun's rays are at their strongest, protect themselves, and consume plenty of fluids.”
TEMPERATURES WILL DROP SHARPLY ON MONDAY
Stating that temperatures will suddenly drop by 10 to 15 degrees on Monday, Kırbaş said they expect rainy weather in the region. However, he emphasized that these rains would not be enough to solve the drought problem:
“We have a lack of precipitation... The occupancy rate of our dams is very low.”
THE NEW NORMAL OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Prof. Dr. Şermin Tağıl from İzmir Bakırçay University emphasized that this extreme heatwave is not just a seasonal anomaly, but that we are experiencing a “new normal” under the influence of climate change:
“Such extreme weather events are now occurring much more frequently and destructively, directly linked to climate change.”
A MINI SUMMER OR A NEW REALITY?
Prof. Dr. Tağıl said that the heatwave is not temporary and could be a harbinger of longer heatwaves in the future:
“This situation in May may not just be a 'mini summer,' but a precursor to longer and more frequent heatwaves in the future.”