Official weather warning in Istanbul: City braces for heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures

A cold air wave from the poles has started to affect much of Türkiye, with temperatures dropping sharply. In Istanbul, while snowfall previously impacted the city’s higher altitudes, this time, snow will blanket the entire city. According to an official weather warning, the snowfall will affect the entire city regardless of the elevation of the neighborhood.

Istanbul Municipality’s Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) announced that heavy snowfall will take place from Thursday until Sunday. This indicates that a cold wave will bring snow and sleet to the city for the next six days.

“Due to the cold and rainy system expected to affect our region throughout the week, temperatures will remain around 0-3°C. Starting Wednesday, sleet and occasional light snowfall are expected, while from Friday onwards, strong and locally heavy snowfall is anticipated,” AKOM said in a statement.

Polar vortex to intensify

Meteorology expert Guven Ozdemir from Istanbul Aydin University told the daily Hurriyet that the polar vortex has significantly intensified. “Temperatures are now at levels where snow is likely,” he said.

Ozdemir explained that an extremely cold air mass, ranging from minus 35 to minus 40 degrees Celsius, will move over the Central Black Sea region, progressing in an east-west band. “Initially, it will affect the entire Marmara and Black Sea coastal areas, and then it is expected to impact inland regions,” he added.

Sea temperature drops, boosting chances of significant snowfall

Meteorology engineer Adil Tek emphasized that a drop in sea temperatures will boost the likelihood of significant snowfall.

“Looking back at past years, especially in Istanbul, we observed that when sea temperatures were around 8 degrees Celsius, snow would accumulate on the ground. Now, sea temperatures are between 8-9 degrees Celsius, with some areas at 8 degrees and others at 9 degrees. In summary, both the sea temperatures and the weather systems arriving in our country are greatly increasing the chances of snow that will stick to the ground, especially in Istanbul and much of Türkiye,” he noted.

Antalya to be colder than Sweden and Finland

Adil Tek also warned that extreme cold from Siberia will reach the Mediterranean. “On Feb. 22, the cold system will reach Antalya. While there seems to be no precipitation initially, conditions could change by Feb. 23-24.

The likelihood of storms is high. In fact, I can say that Antalya will be colder than Sweden and Finland,” he explained.

Snowfall and record-cold temperatures expected in Istanbul

Adil Tek stated that Istanbul will experience snowfall like it hasn’t seen in years. “Temperatures will drop progressively, day by day. Especially in inland areas, temperatures could fall to minus 5 to minus 6 degrees Celsius, while coastal regions will see milder conditions. This will allow the snow to accumulate on the ground,” he said.

Weather forecast for Feb. 19-23

According to weather models, here is the forecast for the coming days:

Feb. 19: Snowfall will begin in the afternoon on the European side of Istanbul. Trakya will also see snow on this date. Ankara, which missed earlier snowfalls, will begin to see some snow, albeit light.

Feb. 20: Snow intensity will increase in the Marmara and Western Black Sea regions. Around 2-4 centimeters of snow could accumulate on the ground in these areas.

Feb. 21: Snowfall will intensify, particularly in Istanbul and nearby cities. Snow accumulation could reach 10 centimeters, with higher areas of Istanbul receiving even more snow.

Feb. 22-23: Snow will continue, and on Sunday, precipitation will reduce. The cold and snowy weather will begin to move out of Istanbul and other regions of Türkiye.

Freezing temperatures and possible school closures

Guven Ozdemir warned of an increased risk of frost and ice during late-night hours, which could affect travel and daily life. “In cities across Türkiye, including Istanbul, sports events may be postponed. School closures are also a strong possibility,” he said. He urged travelers to exercise caution, especially those traveling overland and by sea.

“Risk management must be tightly coordinated between agencies such as the Turkish State Meteorological Service, AKOM and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). It’s critical to follow their warnings. Planning your activities ahead of Thursday is essential. Intercity travel will carry significant risks, and transport disruptions may occur,” Ozdemir cautioned.