Turkey weather: Seasonal snow arrives and dam levels rise

Turkey weather Uludağ snow Istanbul dam levels climate change winter forecast

Turkey is experiencing the onset of winter, with significant snowfall reported across several provinces including Bursa, Ankara, Eskişehir, Afyonkarahisar, Kastamonu, Bolu, Uşak, Konya, and Sakarya. In the Uludağ ski center, the first snow of the season has arrived, with snow depth reaching up to 20 centimeters in some areas, boosting expectations for the winter tourism season.

In Istanbul, recent heavy rainfall has led to a rapid increase in dam occupancy rates. According to İSKİ data, the average occupancy rose by 14.37 percentage points in just four days, climbing from 38.06% on October 14 to 52.43% by October 18. Elmalı Dam recorded the highest occupancy at 77.48%, while Pabuçdere and Kazandere remained below 10%.

Meteorological experts, including Professor Şermin Tağıl from İzmir Bakırçay University, warn of a highly variable 2026-2027 winter season. Driven by the interaction of El Niño, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Polar Vortex, the first half of the winter is expected to be warmer and wetter with risks of heavy rain and flooding. The second half may bring sudden temperature drops and intense snowfall, particularly in the high altitudes of Central and Eastern Anatolia.

Entities

Ankara · Bakırçay University · Bursa · Eskişehir · European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts · General Directorate of Meteorology · Istanbul · Murat Kurum · Prof. Dr. Şermin Tağıl · Turkey · Uludağ · İSKİ

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Snowfall was reported in high altitude areas of Sakarya, Afyonkarahisar, and Kastamonu. www.pusulahaber.com.tr
[● 4 SOURCES] Istanbul dam occupancy rose from 38.06% to 52.43% between October 14 and October 18. tasinmazhaber.com · www.sozcu.com.tr · www.aydinlik.com.tr · www.dunya.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Snowfall in Uludağ reached up to 20 centimeters. www.hakkarihabertv.com · www.bursatv.com.tr · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ten provinces in Turkey received orange code meteorological warnings. www.ilerigazetesi.com.tr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ankara's total dam occupancy rate was 37.05% on October 16. www.gazeteilksayfa.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Elmalı Dam reached an occupancy rate of 77.48%. tasinmazhaber.com · www.sozcu.com.tr · www.aydinlik.com.tr · www.dunya.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The 2026-2027 winter in Turkey is expected to have above-normal temperatures and increased precipitation. www.sivasirade.com · www.yesilafsin.com · www.yorumla.net · www.ekonomist.com.tr · www.yenimesaj.com.tr · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The interaction between El Niño, NAO, and the Polar Vortex affects weather in the Mediterranean Basin. www.sivasirade.com · www.yesilafsin.com · www.yorumla.net · www.ekonomist.com.tr · www.yenimesaj.com.tr · +1 more