The Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) and the Istanbul Governor's Office have issued a warning against heavy rain and thunderstorms expected to affect the city on Tuesday, October 27. According to the statement, the rainfall is expected to be heavy starting from the morning hours, and locally very heavy in the northern districts.
The Governor's Office reported that precipitation levels could generally reach the 21-50 kg/m² range, and between 21-75 kg/m² in Arnavutköy, Sarıyer, Beykoz, Eyüp, and Şile. The heavy rainfall is expected to lose its intensity by the evening hours.
The warning stated that the wind will blow from northern directions at speeds of 40-60 km/h, with occasional short-term storms potentially reaching 70 km/h. Temperatures are also expected to drop noticeably with the rainfall, remaining 3 to 5 degrees below seasonal norms.
The Governor's Office urged citizens to be careful and take precautions against risks such as flash floods, inundation, strong winds during rainfall, and disruptions in transportation.
MORNING HOURS IDENTIFIED FOR PEAK RAINFALL
Meteorology professor Mikdat Kadıoğlu also stated in a post on his social media account that the most intense rainfall in Istanbul is expected between 03:00 and 12:00. Kadıoğlu pointed out that this time interval coincides with the hours when millions of people set out for work and school.
Emphasizing that the number of people who have to be on the road, especially between 06:00 and 10:00, should be reduced, Kadıoğlu stated that options include late starts for classes, online education, flexible working hours, and district-based decisions, in addition to a full-day holiday.
In his post, Kadıoğlu argued that making decisions after the risk has occurred would be a late step in terms of disaster management, stating, "Disaster management is not declaring a holiday after people are stranded on the road; it is reducing exposure before the danger arrives."
HEAVY RAINFALL ALSO EXPECTED FOR MARMARA AND AEGEAN
According to the latest assessments by the MGM, partly cloudy and very cloudy weather will prevail across Turkey. Intermittent showers and thunderstorms are forecast for most regions, excluding the central and eastern Black Sea coasts, the northeast of Eastern Anatolia, and Artvin.
Rainfall is expected to be heavy and locally very heavy throughout the Marmara region, except for Sakarya and Bilecik. While a heavy rainfall warning has been issued for the surroundings of Aydın and Antalya as well as the southern parts of Denizli, it was reported that the rainfall could be severe and locally extreme in the surroundings of Muğla.
Strong and short-term storms are expected from northern directions in the Marmara and North Aegean coasts, and from southern and southeastern directions in the east of Central Anatolia and the coasts of Muğla. Dust transport is forecast for Southeastern Anatolia.
In the specific forecast for Istanbul, it was stated that temperatures will range between 13 and 15 degrees, heavy rainfall will be seen in the morning hours, and the rainfall will be locally very heavy in the northern districts.
Authorities reiterated their call to be careful against adversities such as flash floods, inundation, lightning, local hail, strong winds during rainfall, the risk of tornadoes in coastal areas, and disruptions in transportation.
News Source: 12punto
