Turkey Witnesses the Most Severe Heatwaves in 75 Years

The summers of 2023 and 2025, which witnessed the most powerful heatwaves in the last 75 years, were revealed in a study conducted by scientists. In the study carried out by ITÜ Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics Climate Science and Meteorology Engineering Department Faculty Member and climate scientist Prof. Dr. Barış Önol and Meteorology engineer Tolga Karakaya, the change in heatwaves in Turkey between 1950-2025 was examined. In the study, which used the 'Heat Wave Magnitude Index (HWMId)' based on daily maximum temperature data, the temporal and spatial change of the annual most severe value and annual total values of heatwaves were analyzed. A strong increasing trend was found in the size of heatwaves across Turkey.While the average summer temperatures were between 22-23 degrees in the 1970-1990 period, these values rose to 24-25 degrees with the accelerating warming trend from the beginning of the 2000s. The average summer temperature reached a record high of 26.1 degrees in 2024. The summers of 2023 and 2025 were extraordinary years in terms of heatwaves.