Starting Friday, a significant part of Turkey will be under the influence of frosts known as "Siberian," which will lead to snowfall even in Istanbul, where a prolonged drought has been observed this year, reports RIA Novosti, citing local meteorologists.
According to the latest forecasts, starting from December 26, cold and rainy weather is expected across the country. Snow and rain will be noted in the northern, central, and eastern regions. The perceived temperature will drop by four to ten degrees, and such weather conditions are expected to last for at least a week, reports the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM).
Meteorologists also warned of possible negative consequences, such as ice, damage to agricultural crops, and disruptions in transportation.
Forecasts suggest that the minimum temperature may drop to minus three degrees in Ankara, zero in Istanbul, and minus 17 in Erzurum.
The authorities in Istanbul, where 16 million people live, have urged residents to be cautious due to the expected precipitation: snowfall is predicted in hilly areas on Friday and Saturday.
According to meteorologist Orhan Şen, "due to the cold air coming from Siberia, the temperature will sharply drop by seven to eight degrees by the weekend," he stated on CNN Türk.
It is worth noting that on October 16, the General Directorate of Meteorology declared the summer of 2023 the driest in the last 65 years for Istanbul, Izmir, and 16 other provinces. In turn, the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) reported that the reserves in the city's reservoirs are only 17.63% (153 million cubic meters out of 868 million), the worst figure in the last decade. According to RIA Novosti, there is enough water left for only 50 days.
