Turkey's State Meteorological Service (MGM) and Istanbul's Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) issued yellow-code warnings on October 2, 2026, for storms and heavy downpours affecting Istanbul and a group of other provinces, according to Hürriyet and NTV. Both outlets reported wind gusts of up to 70 km/h and rain expected to intensify through the afternoon and into Saturday.
Which provinces are under warning
The exact number of provinces named varies slightly between reports. Hürriyet listed 13 provinces under yellow alert: Adana, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Hatay, İstanbul, İzmir, Kastamonu, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Manisa, Osmaniye, Sinop and Tekirdağ. NTV's report listed 11 provinces — the same group minus İzmir and Manisa. Milligazete separately described Istanbul and the wider Marmara region as being under alert.
- Istanbul
- Adana
- Balıkesir
- Çanakkale
- Hatay
- Kastamonu
- Kırklareli
- Kocaeli
- Sinop
- Tekirdağ
- Osmaniye
- İzmir (listed by Hürriyet)
- Manisa (listed by Hürriyet)
Istanbul: timing and expected rainfall
According to Milligazete, the most severe conditions in Istanbul were forecast for Friday, October 2, with thunderstorms and lightning affecting the entire city. AKOM, cited by NTV, said rain would intensify after midday on October 2 and continue, with thunderstorms persisting intermittently until Saturday around noon. Hürriyet reported that AKOM described rain as continuing to affect the city at intervals until Saturday morning.
Istanbul rainfall forecast reported by Milligazete (kg/m²)| Date | Forecast rainfall |
|---|
| September 30 | 3–10 kg/m² |
|---|
| October 1 | 5–12 kg/m² |
|---|
| October 2 | 20–50 kg/m² |
|---|
| October 3 | 3–10 kg/m² |
|---|
Milligazete also reported northeasterly winds of 30–65 km/h over the Bosphorus and open areas, with temperatures varying by day — around 14–20°C on September 30 and October 1, and 15–19°C on October 2 — humidity between 60–90%, and a sea-surface temperature of around 20°C.
Reported impact and official warnings
Hürriyet reported that a tree fell onto a parked vehicle in the Harbiye neighborhood of Istanbul's Şişli district. AKOM said it had placed field crews on standby, according to Milligazete. Hürriyet and NTV both reported that authorities flagged risks of flooding, lightning strikes, hail and disruption to transportation.
- Risk of flash floods and water overflow in low-lying and coastal areas
- Lightning strikes during thunderstorm activity
- Wind gusts up to 70 km/h, locally described as short-term storm conditions
- Possible disruption to road and ferry transportation
- Risk of trees or unsecured objects falling in high winds
What is not yet known
None of the three sources reported school closures, flight cancellations or confirmed injuries linked to the storm system as of their publication. The reports also did not specify rainfall totals for provinces outside Istanbul.
Questions
- Which provinces are under a weather warning right now?
- Reports differ slightly: Hürriyet listed 13 provinces (including İzmir and Manisa), while NTV listed 11 of the same group without those two. Istanbul, Adana, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Hatay, Kastamonu, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Sinop, Tekirdağ and Osmaniye appear in both reports.
- How much rain is Istanbul expected to receive?
- Milligazete reported a forecast of 20–50 kg/m² of rain for October 2, the peak day, compared with 3–12 kg/m² on surrounding days.
- How long will the storms last in Istanbul?
- According to NTV and Hürriyet, AKOM said rain and thunderstorms would continue intermittently until Saturday, with NTV specifying conditions could persist until around noon.
- What wind speeds are expected?
- Hürriyet and NTV both reported gusts of up to 70 km/h during short-term storm conditions; Milligazete reported northeasterly winds of 30–65 km/h over open and coastal areas.
- Has the storm already caused damage?
- Hürriyet reported one incident: a tree fell on a parked car in Istanbul's Şişli district. No other damage or injuries were reported in the sources reviewed.
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