November Rainfall Decreases by Half Compared to Previous Year
Average rainfall in November decreased by 50 percent compared to last year
The latest data from the General Directorate of Meteorology of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change revealed that the average rainfall in November across Turkey has decreased significantly compared to last year. According to the 2024 November Spatial Precipitation Report, the precipitation levels in November were below the long-term average and lower than the previous year.
In the period from 1991 to 2020, the average November precipitation was recorded at 58.3 kilograms per square meter. However, in November 2023, this figure jumped to 109.3 kilograms per square meter, only to drop to 54.8 kilograms last month. This represents a 6 percent decrease compared to the normal average and a significant 50 percent drop compared to November of the previous year.
Regions such as the west of Thrace, the Northern Aegean, central parts of Central Anatolia, and several other areas experienced below-normal rainfall in November. Some areas saw a decrease of over 40 percent, while others witnessed an increase of up to 80 percent in precipitation levels.
The Central Anatolia Region received the least amount of rainfall last month, with a 29 percent decrease compared to the normal average. The province of Rize recorded the highest rainfall with 199.6 kilograms per square meter, while Iğdır had the least with 10.3 kilograms per square meter.
Samsun saw a 73 percent increase in precipitation compared to normal, while Edirne experienced a 71 percent decrease. The highest November rainfall of the last 20 years was recorded in Sinop, Samsun, and Amasya.
Despite these variations, the number of rainy days remained consistent with an average of 8.4 days in November from 1991 to 2020. Some regions experienced a higher number of rainy days, while others saw a decrease, indicating significant variability in precipitation patterns across Turkey.
