Record High May Temperatures in Antalya, Muğla Provinces

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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With 38.8 degrees Celsius yesterday (May 17), Turkey's Mediterranean province of Antalya saw the highest May temperature since 1929, when the country started recording meteorological data.

The weather was also 39 degrees in Muğla, another province in the Mediterranean. It was the hottest May day in the city for the last 88 years.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), while fewer people went out in the two cities due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the streets were almost empty yesterday due to high temperatures.

Allowed to go out for six hours from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., fewer citizens aged 65 and over and with chronic diseases went out yesterday when compared with the previous Sunday. The elderly prefered to walk around and take a rest in the shade and parks due to high temperatures.

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Average temperature in Muğla: 24.7 degrees

According to a statement released by the Meteorology 4th Regional Directorate, the temperature in Muğla was 9 to 15 degrees higher than the seasonal normals yesterday (May 17).

While the average temperature in Muğla is 24.7 degrees, the statement of the Directorate has underlined that "the highest temperature recorded in Muğla in May before that was on May 30, 1932 with 36 degrees."

91-year record in Antalya

Murat Güler, the Director of Forecast and Warning Center of the Meteorology 4th Regional Directorate, has indicated that weather forecasts for Antalya started to be recorded 91 years ago and added:

"The highest temperature in Antalya in May was recorded on May 26, 1945 with 38.7 degrees. As of 11.19 a.m., temperature has reached 38.8 degrees, which is a 91-year record for the city."

While a cloud of moisture fell upon the city due to hot weather, the buildings and mountains afar could not be seen due to the cloud. (TP/SD)