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Due to the vastness of the country and the significant differences in altitude, the climate of Turkey is very varied. Along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, it is of the Mediterranean type with little rain. While in the interior it is often semi-desertic. Along the coasts of the Black Sea, however, it is very rainy.
THE CLIMATE OF TURKEY: THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA
The area affected by the Mediterranean climate, which includes all the Turkish coasts that overlook this sea, is characterized by a temperate climate. This climate has hot summers with average maximum summer temperatures above 30 ° C, and mild winters with average maximum temperatures around 15 ° C and average minimum winter temperatures around 5 ° C / 7 ° C.
Along the Mediterranean coasts, the rains are concentrated between November and February and reach average values varying between 500 mm and 700 mm per year.
THE CLIMATE OF TURKEY: THE INTERIOR OF THE COUNTRY
Going into the interior of the country the climate tends to become increasingly dry. In these areas climatic continentality in fact takes over, in some areas the climate becomes cold desertic.
In these areas, which include the entire Anatolian Plateau, there are significant differences in seasonal temperatures and in those between day and night. This means that there are very hot and dry summers and harsh winters with snow and temperatures below zero.
On the Anatolian plateau, rainfall is scarce and varies between 300 mm in the Konya plain, and 500 mm in other areas. Usually it rains relatively more in the winter and spring months. While the summer is consequently very dry. As we move eastward, the climate becomes more and more extreme.
THE CLIMATE OF TURKEY: THE BLACK SEA AREA
In the Pontic climatic zone, that is, along the shores of the Black Sea, the climate is characterized by heavy rains. In these areas it also reaches values of 2,000 mm per year, well distributed in every month of the year. Around the Black Sea area there are fewer differences in seasonal temperatures with mild winters and mild summers.
Turkey’s main tourist destination, Istanbul, is located in a transition area between the Mediterranean and the Pontic climate. Here there are relatively hot and dry summers, sometimes windy, the average summer temperatures varying between 26 ° C and 18 ° C, while the winters are rainy and rather cold with average winter temperatures varying between 3 ° C and 11 ° C. In winter sometimes the snow also falls.
WHEN TO GO TO TURKEY
First of all, Turkey has an area of its territory that can be visited for each season. The months between March and October are the best for visiting Istanbul and the Mediterranean coasts. The internal regions of the Anatolian plateau, including Cappadocia, are best visited in the months between April and June and between September and October when temperatures are warm, but not as unbearable as in July and August. In eastern Turkey the summer months between June and September are the best for a trip. Along the Black Sea coast the best period is the relatively less rainy months between April and September.
Istanbul climate. Alanya climate. Antalya climate. Fethiye climate.
The official website of the Weather of Turkey.
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TURKEY CLIMATE: CLIMATIC TABLES
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| ISTANBUL (39 meters) | ||||
| Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
| January | 3,2 | 8,5 | 105,0 | 17,5 |
| February | 3,1 | 9,0 | 78,0 | 15,3 |
| March | 4,2 | 10,8 | 70,8 | 13,8 |
| April | 7,7 | 15,4 | 45,2 | 10,4 |
| May | 12,1 | 20,0 | 34,1 | 8,1 |
| June | 16,5 | 24,6 | 35,0 | 6,1 |
| July | 19,5 | 26,6 | 31,6 | 4,2 |
| August | 20,1 | 26,8 | 40,7 | 4,9 |
| September | 16,8 | 23,7 | 59,5 | 7,4 |
| October | 13,0 | 19,1 | 90,0 | 11,3 |
| November | 8,9 | 14,7 | 101,3 | 13,2 |
| December | 5,5 | 10,8 | 122,0 | 17,2 |
| YEAR | 10,9 | 17,5 | 813,2 | 129,4 |
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| ANKARA (938 meters) | ||||
| Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
| January | -3,0 | 4,4 | 42,1 | 12,3 |
| February | -2,2 | 6,6 | 36,6 | 11,0 |
| March | 0,9 | 11,6 | 40,3 | 11,1 |
| April | 5,6 | 17,3 | 46,5 | 11,7 |
| May | 9,7 | 22,2 | 52,0 | 12,6 |
| June | 13,0 | 26,6 | 36,7 | 8,9 |
| July | 15,9 | 30,2 | 14,2 | 3,7 |
| August | 16,0 | 30,3 | 10,9 | 2,8 |
| September | 11,8 | 26,0 | 18,7 | 3,9 |
| October | 7,2 | 19,8 | 29,1 | 6,9 |
| November | 2,4 | 12,9 | 32,0 | 8,4 |
| December | -0,7 | 6,6 | 43,1 | 11,5 |
| YEAR | 6,4 | 17,9 | 402,2 | 104,8 |
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| ANTALYA (30 meters) | ||||
| Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
| January | 5,9 | 14,9 | 234,2 | 12,3 |
| February | 6,2 | 15,5 | 160,7 | 10,8 |
| March | 8,0 | 18,0 | 96,8 | 9,0 |
| April | 11,2 | 21,3 | 46,2 | 7,2 |
| May | 15,0 | 25,5 | 30,0 | 5,6 |
| June | 19,6 | 30,9 | 9,6 | 2,9 |
| July | 22,7 | 34,2 | 2,2 | 1,4 |
| August | 22,7 | 34,2 | 2,5 | 1,4 |
| September | 19,3 | 31,2 | 12,3 | 2,3 |
| October | 15,2 | 26,6 | 67,7 | 5,8 |
| November | 10,6 | 21,1 | 131,9 | 7,5 |
| December | 7,5 | 16,6 | 263,3 | 12,0 |
| YEAR | 13,7 | 24,2 | 1057,4 | 78,2 |
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SEA WATER TEMPERATURES
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| ANTALYA | ||||
| Month | Sea Water Temperature °C | |||
| January | 17 | |||
| February | 16 | |||
| March | 16 | |||
| April | 18 | |||
| May | 20 | |||
| June | 24 | |||
| July | 26 | |||
| August | 28 | |||
| September | 26 | |||
| October | 24 | |||
| November | 20 | |||
| December | 18 | |||
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