The weather in Turkey. When is the best time for rest?
The favorable climate of Turkey allows you to enjoy your holidays all year round. However, the bathing season here lasts from late April to late October, but Turkey is delightful in other months too. The climate is predominantly subtropical and Mediterranean. Summer is hot, and winter is mild and quite warm – near the coast. But the weather is not soft in the interior of the country. The temperature in winter is usually lower than on the coast, summer is hot, and the amount of rain is limited.
Weather in different regions
Different regions of Turkey differ markedly in terms of climate. In most coastal areas, there is high humidity. The Aegean and Mediterranean resorts are characterized by a subtropical and Mediterranean climate. Winters in these places are soft, without the appearance of a steady snow cover.
The moderate maritime climate in Turkey prevails on the Black Sea coast. Summer in the region is warm, sometimes hot, with an increase in air temperature to +40 °C. Also, the average temperature in July is about +23 °C. The winter is cold: the average temperature in January is +5 °C. Humidity is high during the year.
In southeast Turkey, the climate is dry and can be described as a tropical desert, which is characterized by temperature contrasts during the day and low humidity. During the summer days, the temperature in Turkey is often kept at +40 °C, and in winter, there are snowfalls.
Weather and Climate in Turkey by Month
January
The coldest month in Turkey. The temperature usually ranges from +5 to +10 °C. It often rains, sometimes quite heavily. Occasionally, once every few years, January temperatures are low enough for snow to fall. But it melts fast on the ground and lingers on tree tops and roofs for hours.
It can be the best month to visit Istanbul for lovers of snow pictures. It will be unforgettable experience in Turkey!
The water temperature near the coast rarely drops below +17 °C, but, obviously, nobody dares to swim in such water. But the ski resorts of Turkey this month are blissful: there is usually good weather sprinkled with snow – just the right thing to get up on skis.
February
The average temperature in February is almost the same as in January, around +10 °C. But by the end of the month, you can already feel the approach of spring: the air is full of scents of fresh greenery, and the air itself does not have time to cool overnight.
March
The eve of the bathing season beckons to the coast. The average monthly temperature reaches +17 °C. The water temperature in the south is approaching +18 °C by the end of the month. Swimming, of course, is not yet allowed, but you really want to. In this case, many hotels offer outdoor pools with seawater and low prices compared with the season.
April
The most characteristic thing about this month is that the weather is consistently warm, and the average temperature of the month is a little over +20 °C. Almost all hotels on the coast open the season, welcoming mass arrivals of holidaymakers. And the water temperature in the sea is steadily rising, so especially hardened people already open bathing season. We must add that Turkey is stunning in April. Flowering plants are pleasing to the eye in cities and resort areas.
May
The average temperature reaches +27 °C. The rains are warm and enjoyable. Especially if it does not turn into heavy rain. The water temperature in the sea is steady at +21 °C. Sea water invigorates and causes a rush of energy during this period. But it is not the best month to visit Antalya and Aegean because the price of hotels is steadily rising.
June
The average temperature in June is usually around +33 °C. The sea is already warm with a temperature of up to +23 °C. This is the best time for holidays with children: an immature child’s body will not experience difficulties from one climate to another.
July
The peak season comes in Turkey in July. The air warms up to +35 °C, and the water in the sea up to +26 °C. However, some people may not find this weather too attractive – it’s too hot.
Most tourists enjoy the warm sea and the hot sun because almost everyone comes to Turkey from places with a colder climate and suffers from a lack of sunny days at home.
August
A month when the average temperature is about +38 °C and the water is +27 °C. People who come to Turkey for the bright sun and warm sea get both. If only the humidity were lower…
September
The month is soft like May: the exhausting heat is gone, and the sea is still warm and gentle. If it rains, it is not soul-destroying but calm and warm. The weather in September favors vacationers and the population of the country. The month is satisfactory for children’s holidays as the weather is not stressful for the body.
October
The weather in October is hot and brings many surprises. Rains, though usually warm, can turn into downpours, sometimes damaging cities and roads.
November
November in Turkey is real autumn. The whole of nature looks tired of the summer heat. The average air temperature stays around +17 °C, the sea cools down, and it doesn’t look as welcoming as summer. It often rains, sometimes for a few hours during the day.
December
Turkey’s weather in December is cold but mild. The air temperature is around +12 °C. But the sky is often frowning, low clouds are floating over the cities and resort areas, and the hotels are closed until the next season. However, it does not apply to the ski resorts of Turkey. The season begins in December: Sarykamysh, Uludag, and Palandoken are preparing to receive skiers.
