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Istanbul is set for a cooler and unsettled weekend after AKOM, the disaster coordination unit of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, warned that a rainy system moving in from the Balkans could bring thunderstorms, strong showers and local hail on Saturday.
After a week of temperatures around 31-34 degrees Celsius, the incoming system is expected to bring temperatures down to around 27 degrees Celsius on Saturday, marking a clear shift from the recent warm conditions.
According to AKOM's assessment, the wet weather is expected to start around 8:00 a.m. and hold on until about 8:00 p.m., leaving Istanbul under unsettled conditions for much of the day.
The risk is linked to the meeting of hot, humid air with cooler air from the north. AKOM expects this unstable setup to set off locally strong showers across different parts of the city.
Forecasters say thunderstorms may develop in parts of Istanbul during the day, with rainfall becoming stronger at times rather than spreading evenly across the whole city.
AKOM says rainfall could reach 10–30 kilograms per square meter (10–30 mm) in some areas.
The same unstable weather pattern could also bring lightning and thunder, making Saturday's conditions more active than a simple rainy day.
AKOM also warned that small, local hail events could occur in parts of the city as cooler air moves into the warm and humid conditions over Istanbul.
The warning marks a shift in the weekend outlook, with cooler temperatures and repeated showers replacing the hotter pattern seen during the week.
The assessment centers on Saturday, when the rain band is expected to move through Istanbul before fading out by evening, while local downpours remain the main concern.
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