Severe storms expected to hit Turkey, impact daily life: Meteorology directorate

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Severe storms are expected to hit Turkey and impact daily life starting later on Jan. 17, the General Directorate of Meteorology has warned.

The storms are expected to move eastward and impact all seas surrounding Turkey and could bring about falling trees, flying roofs, interrupted transportation and natural gas poisoning from compromised stoves, the directorate warned.

The Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) also made a specific warning for locals in Istanbul, saying winds are expected to turn into severe storms by the evening of Jan. 17, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

A sudden drop in temperatures of around 8 degrees Celsius is also expected in Istanbul on Jan. 18, AKOM warned.

Despite the drop in temperatures, Ahmet Kocaman of the Meteorology Directorate said snowfall is not predicted at this point.

Istanbul’s Fast Ferry and Sea Bus Company (IDO) has announced the cancelation of several services, while Bursa’s BUDO has also said some services to and from Istanbul have been canceled.

Wind speeds are expected to reach 75 to 90 kilometers per hour from the west, southwest and northwest and around 105 kilometers per hour on the Mediterranean’s Antalya coast in southern Turkey.

The storms are expected to calm down by late Jan. 19, the statement said.