23.08.2026 15:00
Turkey has come under the influence of a tropical heat wave originating from Africa. Prof. Dr. Murat Türkeş, a member of the Executive Board of the Boğaziçi University Center for Climate Change and Policy Research and Application, announced that temperatures will remain 3 to 6 degrees above seasonal norms until Thursday, August 27.
Prof. Dr. Murat Türkeş, a member of the Board of Directors of Boğaziçi University's Center for Climate Change and Policy Studies Application and Research Center, stated that the tropical heat wave originating from Africa, effective since Friday, will impact the Central Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, and a large part of Türkiye until Thursday, saying, "Air temperatures in most of Türkiye could be 3 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal."
Due to the heat wave coming from Africa, temperatures in many cities are above seasonal norms. Prof. Dr. Murat Türkeş, a member of the Board of Directors of Boğaziçi University's Center for Climate Change and Policy Studies Application and Research Center, stated that the tropical heat wave originating from Africa, effective since Friday, will impact the Central Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, and a large part of Türkiye until Thursday, saying, "Türkiye is under the influence of the heat wave originating from Africa. Until August 27, air temperatures in most of Türkiye, including the Aegean Region, could be 3 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal."
'HEAT WAVE WILL LOSE ITS EFFECT ON THURSDAY' Stating that the heat wave will lose its effect on August 27, Prof. Dr. Türkeş said, "Air temperatures seem likely to be around normal, especially in regions that will receive rainfall. During the days when the heat wave will be effective, humidity will also be very high on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, but especially in the Eastern Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. Due to high humidity, the perceived temperatures on our coasts will negatively affect human comfort. People may feel the air temperatures higher due to high humidity." Prof. Dr. Türkeş stated that air temperatures will remain above normal in the first week of September.
'NO RECORD TEMPERATURES WERE BROKEN THIS YEAR' Prof. Dr. Türkeş said, "While very high temperatures and droughts occurred in Western and Central Europe; In Eastern Europe, the Black Sea Basin, and Türkiye, record temperatures were not broken this year due to the influence of high atmospheric low centers supported by relatively cold air and meteorological troughs that can cause precipitation, balancing the high-pressure ridge and hot air mass in the west. In Türkiye, we did not experience the successive heat waves seen in Western Europe. Atmospheric conditions this year were not favorable for Türkiye to experience weather conditions that caused temperatures to be far above normal, very hot, and successive record temperatures to be broken, as in the last 5 years. This had a positive reflection in terms of fires. During the days when intense heat and the northeast wind were effective, there was a 10-day fire cycle. Until the effect of the latest heat wave passes, attention must be paid regarding forest fires. When the wind is strong, and the air is hot and dry, the fire risk may also increase, especially in Southern Marmara, the Aegean, Southwest Anatolia, and the Mediterranean coastal zone if the wind is strong. Until mid-September, there is a risk of shrub and forest fires in the western and southern regions of Türkiye."