Turkey to be Hit by Scorching Eyyam-i Bahur Heat

The country is bracing for a new heatwave as the eyyam-i bahur heat is expected to take hold in the first days of August. Professor Hüseyin Toros, Head of the Climate Science and Meteorological Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University (ITU), announced that temperatures above seasonal norms are expected across Turkey in the first days of August. Prof. Dr. Toros stated that the period known as 'eyyam-i bahur' among the public has no official definition in meteorology but is used to describe the hottest days of the year, with temperatures above 40 degrees in the Southeastern Anatolia Region being the main risk. In Istanbul and the coastal areas of the Marmara Region, the perceived temperature is expected to rise due to high humidity. According to experts, the heatwave will intensify across much of Turkey from Wednesday onwards. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros noted that short-term heatwaves alone are not proof of climate change, but long-term data reveals a significant warming trend in Turkey. According to the Turkish State Meteorological Service, the country's average temperature rose from 12.7 degrees in the 1970-1980 period to 14.4 degrees in the 2014-2025 period. Experts warn that the elderly, children, those with chronic illnesses, and individuals living alone may be more severely affected by the heat. Prof. Dr. Toros explained that large cities tend to be hotter than rural areas due to the 'urban heat island' effect.