Turkey Experienced Highest Number of Extreme Weather Events in 2019

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Average temperature in Turkey was 14.7 Celsius degrees (58.4 Fahrenheit) in 2019, which was recorded as the fourth hottest year since 1971, according to the yearly report by the Turkish State Meteorological Service.

Apart from April and July, temperatures were higher than long-time averages, while the seasonal analysis shows that all seasons were hotter than average.

In 2019, rainfall was higher than average in the country's south while it was lower in the north.

Sixty-three stations saw record-high monthly temperatures during the year and one station saw a record-low temperature.

Extreme events

A total of 935 extreme weather events were recorded last year, up from 840 in 2018, the report stated. Last year marked the highest recorded number of extreme events, whereas the numbers have been on an increase in the past 20 years.

Among the year's extreme weather events, 38 percent were recorded as heavy rainfall/flood, 29 percent were recorded as storm, 18 percent were recorded as hail, 7 percent were recorded as lightning, 5 percent were recorded as heavy snowfall, and 3 percent were reported as landslide. (TP/VK)