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Meteorology General Directorat

Turkey's 2026 water year rainfall reaches highest level in 66 years

Turkey Brief
Turkey Brief
Turkey's 2026 water year rainfall reaches highest level in 66 years

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Rainfall across Turkey in the 2026 water year, covering 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, averaged 741.6 kilograms per square meter, according to a report from the Meteorology General Directorate of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change compiled by Anadolu Agency (AA).

The total was 29 percent above the long-term normal of 573.4 kilograms per square meter and 76 percent above the 2025 water year figure of 422.5 kilograms, marking the highest water year rainfall in 66 years. All seven geographical regions recorded levels above both their normals and last year's totals.

Rainy days well above the long-term average

Turkey recorded an average of 118.7 rainy days during the 2026 water year, 18 percent above the long-term average of 100.2 days.

Rainfall totals rose in every region compared with the same period last year. The Mediterranean region posted its highest water year rainfall in 66 years, Eastern Anatolia in 38 years, Central Anatolia in 15 years, the Aegean in 11 years and the Black Sea in 10 years. In Southeastern Anatolia, water year rainfall exceeded three times the previous year's amount.

Şırnak records the largest increase against normal

Rize recorded the highest provincial total at 1,641 kilograms per square meter, while Iğdır recorded the lowest at 396.1 kilograms. Water year rainfall stayed below normal in Artvin and Tekirdağ, near normal in Bursa, Edirne, Kastamonu and Rize, and above normal in all other provinces.

The largest increase relative to normal was 80 percent in Şırnak. Adana, Amasya, Düzce, Giresun, Hatay, Isparta, İzmir, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Manisa, Niğde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Samsun, Tokat and Yozgat reached their highest water year rainfall in 66 years. Bingöl, Bitlis, Erzincan, Sivas and Tunceli posted their highest in 38 years, Muş in 31 years and Gaziantep in 30 years.

In some parts of Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, Bursa, Kastamonu, Malatya, Gümüşhane, Rize, Artvin, Erzurum and Bayburt, rainfall fell by up to 20 percent below normal. Around Ayvalık, Antalya, Mersin, Siirt, Şırnak, Van and Hakkari it rose by more than 60 percent.

Mediterranean and southeast show the biggest gains

The Mediterranean and Southeastern Anatolia regions recorded the largest increases against normal, both at 45 percent. Mediterranean rainfall reached 967.1 kilograms per square meter, against a normal of 665.1 kilograms and 460.6 kilograms in the same period last year. That is more than double last year's level and the region's highest in 66 years.

Southeastern Anatolia recorded 773 kilograms per square meter, compared with a normal of 533.9 kilograms and 248.8 kilograms last year. Eastern Anatolia received 709.9 kilograms, 32 percent above normal and 76 percent above the same period last year, its highest in 38 years. Central Anatolia recorded 521.6 kilograms, 30 percent above normal and more than double last year's figure, the highest in 15 years.

Aegean, Black Sea and Marmara figures

Aegean water year rainfall totaled 765.2 kilograms per square meter, 27 percent above the normal of 604.7 kilograms and 75 percent above the same period last year, the highest level in 11 years.

The Black Sea region received 823.9 kilograms per square meter, 18 percent above the normal of 697 kilograms and 23 percent above the 672.5 kilograms recorded last year, its highest in 10 years. In the Marmara region, rainfall reached 738.5 kilograms per square meter, 10 percent above the normal of 670 kilograms and 68 percent above the 439.7 kilograms recorded in the same period last year.

Key takeaways

  • Turkey's 2026 water year rainfall averaged 741.6 kilograms per square meter, the highest in 66 years
  • Rainfall rose 29 percent above the long-term normal and 76 percent above the previous water year
  • Şırnak saw the largest increase against normal at 80 percent; Rize recorded the highest total and Iğdır the lowest
  • Rainy days averaged 118.7, 18 percent above the long-term average of 100.2 days
Turkey Brief
Turkey Brief

Editor at Turkey Brief.

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