What is the Weather Like in Turkey? An In-Depth Look at All Seasons

Turkey is a country that spans two continents and has incredibly diverse geography and climate zones. From the Mediterranean coastline to the arid interior plateau Turkey experiences all four seasons but with drastically different temperatures and weather patterns depending on what part of the country you’re in. This article will give you an in-depth breakdown of Turkey’s weather and climate to help you understand what to expect during your travels.

Overview of Turkey’s Climate

Turkey can be broadly divided into four climate zones

Mediterranean – Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters along the southern and western coasts This includes popular tourist destinations like Antalya
Black Sea – Warm summers and cool, wet winters with year-round precipitation. The Black Sea region has the mildest climate in Turkey.
Continental/Central Anatolia – Very cold winters with snow and hot, dry summers. The capital Ankara has this climate type.
Southeastern Anatolia – Extremely hot and dry summers and very cold winters with occasional snow. This desert-like region has the most extreme temperatures.

The coasts have oceanic influences while the interior plateau experiences a harsher continental climate. Turkey’s diverse topography also impacts local climates.

Spring Weather (March to May)

Spring brings pleasant weather to most of Turkey, making it a popular travel season. From mid-March to May, temperatures start warming up and there’s an increase in rainfall compared to summer.

Mediterranean coast – Comfortably warm with lows around 11°C (52°F) and highs of 20°C (68°F). Great for beach getaways.
Central Anatolia – Cold nights around freezing and warm days up to 18°C (64°F). Ideal for sightseeing and hiking.
Southeast – Hot and dry during the day but can still get cold at night. Average highs of 27°C (81°F).
Black Sea – Mild and wet with temperatures from 10°C to 19°C (50°F to 66°F). lush green landscapes.

Hot Summers (June to August)

Summers in Turkey bring dry, sunny weather but with extremely hot temperatures in interior regions. Coastal areas remain pleasantly warm thanks to sea breezes.

Mediterranean coast – Hot but not too humid with highs around 30°C (86°F). Great for beach holidays.
Central Anatolia – Very hot and dry with summer highs around 33°C (91°F). Scorching by day but cool evenings.
Southeast – Brutally hot with highs routinely above 40°C (104°F). Avoid visiting in mid-summer.
Black Sea – Warm and moderately wet with summer highs in the low to mid 20°Cs (70s°F). The “cool” alternative.

Pleasant Autumns (September to November)

Autumn sees cooler temperatures return to Turkey, making for pleasant weather ideal for activities and sightseeing. Days remain sunny but lack summer’s intensity.

Mediterranean coast – Warm days around 25°C (77°F) and cooler nights. Great for outdoor exploration.
Central Anatolia – Comfortably warm afternoons but can get quite cold after sunset. Average highs of 20°C (68°F).
Southeast – Still hot but without the extremity of summer. Highs in the low 30°Cs (high 80s°F).
Black Sea – Mild temperatures between 15°C to 22°C (59°F to 72°F). Pleasantly cool with low rainfall.

Cold, Snowy Winters (December to February)

Turkish winters bring very cold temperatures, rain, and lots of snow, especially in inner regions. Coastal areas remain milder but still chilly.

Mediterranean coast – Cool with average highs of 12°C (54°F). Occasional rain but snow very rare.
Central Anatolia – Frigid temperatures below freezing. Heavy snowfall possible from December to March.
Southeast – Extreme cold with frequent snow. Lows routinely drop below -10°C (14°F).
Black Sea – Chilly but manageable with typical winter highs around 10°C (50°F). Moderate snow.

Key Takeaways

Spring and autumn offer Turkey’s most pleasant weather for tourism. Summers can be brutally hot inland.
The Black Sea region has Turkey’s mildest climate while the Southeast has the most extreme temperatures.
Winters bring cold temperatures and abundant snowfall, especially in inner regions. Coastal areas remain milder.
Weather varies drastically depending on if you’re inland or coastal. Do your research for the area visiting.
When planning your Turkey travels, consider the typical weather conditions for your destination and time of visit.

5- South Coast Along the southern coast of Turkey (see

Climate chart – Antalya In

Antalya – Average temperatures (1991-2020)

In Antalya, about 1,050 mm (41.5 in) of rain fall per year, but it almost never rains from June to Spetember, while the rains are abundant in winter.

Month	Min (°C)	Max (°C)	Mean (°C)	Min (°F)	Max (°F)	Mean (°F)
January	5.4	15.1	10.3	42	59	50.5
February	6.2	16	11.1	43	61	51.9
March	8	18.5	13.2	46	65	55.8
April	11.1	21.8	16.5	52	71	61.6
May	15.4	26.4	20.9	60	80	69.6
June	19.9	31.6	25.8	68	89	78.4
July	23.2	34.8	29	74	95	84.2
August	23.5	34.8	29.2	74	95	84.5
September	19.9	31.6	25.8	68	89	78.4
October	15.7	27.3	21.5	60	81	70.7
November	10.4	21.5	16	51	71	60.7
December	7	16.7	11.9	45	62	53.4
Year	13.9	24.7	19.25	56.9	76.5	66.5

Antalya – Average precipitation

The sun shines quite often even in winter, except in periods of bad weather, while in summer the sky is normally clear. The sea is warmer than in the north and west coast, and its warm enough for swimming from June to October.

Month	Millimeters	Inches	Days
January	210	8.3	13
February	115	4.5	11
March	95	3.7	10
April	65	2.6	8
May	35	1.4	7
June	10	0.4	3
July	4	0.2	1
August	5	0.2	1
September	20	0.8	3
October	75	3	6
November	150	5.9	8
December	270	10.6	12
Year	1060	41.7	84

Antalya – Sea temperature

Month	Celsius (°C)	Fahrenheit (°F)
January	17.5	63	February	16.5	62	March	17	62	April	18	64	May	20.5	69	June	24	76	July	27	80	August	28	83	September	27	81	October	24.5	76	November	21	70	December	18.5	66	Year	21.7	71.1

3- North-east Coast In the easternmost part of the Turkish coast of the Black Sea, east of Trabzon, from

Climate chart – Rize In Rize, winter is milder than in the area of Istanbul, with less frequent snowfalls. The average temperature ranges from 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in January and February, to 24.5 °C (76 °F) in August.

Rize – Average temperatures (1991-2020)

In Rize, as much as 2,300 mm of rain (90 in) fall per year.

Month	Min (°C)	Max (°C)	Mean (°C)	Min (°F)	Max (°F)	Mean (°F)
January	3.9	11	7.4	39	52	45.4
February	3.7	11.1	7.4	39	52	45.3
March	5.4	12.9	9.2	42	55	48.5
April	8.5	15.9	12.2	47	61	54
May	13.2	20.2	16.7	56	68	62.1
June	17.5	24.9	21.2	64	77	70.2
July	20.5	27.4	24	69	81	75.1
August	21.2	28.1	24.6	70	83	76.4
September	17.7	25.4	21.5	64	78	70.8
October	13.9	21.4	17.6	57	71	63.8
November	8.8	16.7	12.8	48	62	55
December	5.6	13	9.3	42	55	48.7
Year	11.7	19	15.35	53.1	66.3	59.5

Rize – Average precipitation

The sun does not shine very often, even in July and August, when there are only 5/5.5 hours of sunshine a day.

Month	Millimeters	Inches	Days
January	225	8.9	16
February	170	6.7	14
March	155	6.1	17
April	90	3.5	16
May	95	3.7	16
June	150	5.9	16
July	165	6.5	14
August	195	7.7	15
September	265	10.4	15
October	305	12	16
November	245	9.6	14
December	250	9.8	15
Year	2310	90.9	184

Best Time to Visit Istanbul, Turkey | WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE? WHAT TO WEAR? WHEN IS LOW SEASON?

FAQ

What is the weather like in Turkey all year round?

Average temperatures range between 14–18 °C (57–64 °F) with winter means around 1–6 °C (34–43 °F), and summers as hot as (or hotter than) the Mediterranean.

What is the cold month in Turkey?

January and February are the coldest months in Turkey, and the warmth of spring does not show itself till late March. The interior regions are covered in snow most of the winter.

What is Turkey’s climate like?

Summers are sunny, and August is the warmest month, averaging about 73°F. Winters are typically cloudy, and February temperatures can dip to 41°F. Istanbul is prone to snow during the winter as cold Siberian winds meet the Black Sea’s warm waters, creating snow storms in a phenomenon called the lake-effect.

What is the best month to go to Turkey?

April and May are often the best months to visit Turkey as although you may get a couple of rainy days there’s an abundance of wild flowers and blossom turning the countryside into a cornucopia of colour alongside milder temperatures and fewer crowds on walking trails both inland and along the coast.