Istanbul is set for heavy rain and strong northerly winds on Tuesday, 27 October, with the heaviest downpours expected in five northern districts, the Istanbul Governor’s Office said on Monday, citing the State Meteorological Service (MGM).
The warning was the lead weather story on Monday, with Hürriyet reporting a series of warnings for the city and flagging flood risk in the five districts.
Heaviest rain in the north of the city
According to the governor’s office statement, reported by Anadolu Agency (AA), thunderstorms are expected from Monday night. From Tuesday morning, rain is forecast to be strong at 21 to 50 kilograms per square metre (equivalent to millimetres) across the city, and very strong at 21 to 75 kg/m² in Arnavutköy, Sarıyer, Beykoz, Eyüp and Şile, which lie along the Black Sea side and the upper Bosphorus. The rain is expected to ease on Tuesday evening.
An MGM forecast reported by Cumhuriyet put the window for the heaviest rain in the northern districts from midnight on Monday until 18:00 on Tuesday. It also forecast strong rain of 21 to 50 kg/m² on Tuesday in Tekirdağ, Kocaeli and Yalova, with thunderstorms around Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and İzmir.
The governor’s office said northerly winds would blow at 40 to 60 km/h, with short gusts of around 70 km/h, and that temperatures would fall 3 to 5 degrees below the seasonal average. It warned of floods, flash flooding, strong winds during downpours and disruption to transport, and urged residents to take precautions. Hürriyet said further rain is expected in Istanbul on Thursday and Friday.
No school closures announced
By late Monday afternoon no decision to close schools in Istanbul on Tuesday had been announced, Cumhuriyet reported at 16:49, noting that a closure would require a separate decision by the governor’s office.
The weather system has already caused disruption in the south-west, where Monday’s storm flooded workplaces and briefly closed a road in Bodrum and cancelled Bodrum’s ferries to Datça and Kos. Muğla remains under a severe rain warning for Tuesday.
What it means for residents
If you live in Istanbul, expect a slow commute on Tuesday: allow extra time, use rail lines such as the Metro and Marmaray where possible, and avoid underpasses and low-lying coastal roads that tend to flood during downpours. Secure balcony furniture against the gusts, clear drains on terraces, and check ferry and flight status before travelling, as strong winds can disrupt Bosphorus crossings. Follow announcements from the governor’s office and AKOM, the municipality’s disaster coordination centre. For more on the city, see our guide to living in Istanbul.
Sources
- İstanbul için uyarılar peş peşe geldi! Sel riski var: 5 ilçeye dikkat çekildi (Hürriyet)
- İstanbul Valiliği, 5 ilçeyi işaret etti: Gök gürültülü sağanak uyarısı (BirGün/AA)
- Meteoroloji’den İstanbul’a saatli uyarı: ‘Bu gece yarısından sonra…’ (Cumhuriyet)
- İstanbul’da yarın okullar tatil mi? 27 Ekim Salı (Cumhuriyet)
Photo: ALTUGD / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
