Heat wave warning issued for Turkey

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

The Turkish Meteorological Service has warned of an upcoming heat wave across the country, saying it would push temperatures higher than expected starting this week, daily Hürriyet reported on July 27.

Temperatures would be higher by five degrees in Istanbul, six degrees in the Aegean province of İzmir and eight degrees in the capital Ankara, it said, adding temperatures in other provinces in the Marmara region would be around 40 degrees Celsius.

Meteorology experts said the average temperature in Istanbul and Ankara during July this year would rise to 38 degrees Celsius for the first time, although it had been around 30 degrees Celsius for years. Temperatures across the country would be high until the end of this week, they added.

In Turkey’s eastern provinces such as Malatya and Elazığ, temperatures would be between 40 to 42 degrees Celsius while in the Central Anatolian provinces it would be higher, up to 44 degrees Celsius.

They also urged those who want to stay in cool places to go to upland areas, rather than seaside resorts and coastal towns.

“The lowest temperatures are seen in the Black Sea region and the Mediterranean shoreline. But the shorelines of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean would be humid due to the sea-to-land direction of the wind,” experts said, adding upland villages and high towns would be better options for those who want to cool themselves down.

Experts also stressed high temperatures would lower the work efficiency for those who work in places with a temperature higher than 32 degrees Celsius by around 50 percent.