CLIMATE OF ISTANBUL The inhabitants of Istanbul
enjoy all four seasons. The characteristic weather here
is a somewhat cooler version of the Mediterranean
climate: a short spring, ideal summer temperatures, a
long autumn with blue skies,and a rainy winter... The
Bosphorus dons the purple of the Judas-tree groves in
the spring. The parks and gardens are decorated with
tulips and other flowers. March is a cool, rainy month,
but April and May are exactly what one expects of the
spring. June is half spring, half summer. An old saying
advises one "not to bathe in the sea before you see the
rind of a watermelon". It is possible to bathe in the
seas of Istanbul until the end of September. In July and
August, except for perhaps two or three hot weeks, there
are sometimes even cloudy or cool days. The weather can
be undependable in a region with such a blending of
lands and seas. Morning clouds may clear toward noon and
invite the sun. Autumn is the longest season, and during
the larger part of the year the morning haze makes the
skies as bright as mother-of-pearl. During the winter
months from December to March one needs a raincoat, a
thick coat, and sometimes even a fur. There are few days
of frost or snow. The main winds throughout the year are
the cool and rainy "poyraz" from the south, and the warm
"lodos" from the south. The last severe winter within
the city boundaries was experienced in 1978 when the
airport had to be closed partially for three days. For
those who long for the snow, the winter sports center in
Uludag, Bursa is not far away.
Average annual
temperature: 13.7°C (56.6 °F)
Coldest month: February 5°C (41°F)
Hottest months: July-August 22-23°C (72-74°F)
Average annual precipitation: 691mm (27 inches)
Average snowy days: 7
Alongside the efforts involving wastewater
infrastructure, the seawaters are in the process of
being cleaned and Istanbul is returning to its
pre-pollution times of rich bathing opportunities.
The beaches on the coast of the Black Sea, the
Marmara, and the Princes' Islands are all less than
one hour away from the center, and swimming is
possible throughout the summer months.
Only experienced swimmers should attempt the
currents of the cool Bosphorus. On windy days, the
Black Sea is like the ocean.
|
 |
No other city in the world has
beaches that are so safe and so close to the city, and
seawaters with salt levels to suit every taste.
Older inhabitants remember the days when they bathed in the Golden Horn;
maybe it will be possible to do so again before the year
2004.
|
14 March 2006
Tuesday
|
15 March 2006
Wednesday
|
16 March 2006
Thursday
|
17 March 2006
Friday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6C / 5C
43F / 41F
|
8C / 6C
46F / 43F
|
8C / 4C
46F / 39F
|
7C / 4C
45F / 39F
|
|
