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Türkiye recorded its highest May rainfall in 33 years, with nationwide precipitation rising well above seasonal averages, according to the Turkish State Meteorological Service’s 2026 May Areal Precipitation Report.
The report showed that average rainfall across the country reached 95.6 kilograms per square meter in May. This was 81% higher than the long-term May average of 52.7 kilograms per square meter, calculated for the 1991-2020 period, and 98% higher than rainfall recorded in May 2025.
The increase was especially strong in the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia and Black Sea regions, where May rainfall reached its highest level in 66 years.
The Black Sea and Mediterranean regions received more than twice their seasonal average rainfall. Central Anatolia also saw a sharp rise, with May rainfall almost doubling compared with the long-term norm.
Several provinces, including Adana, Aksaray, Amasya, Erzincan, Giresun, Gumushane, Isparta, Kayseri, Konya, Mersin, Nigde, Osmaniye, Rize, Tokat, Trabzon and Tunceli, also recorded their highest May rainfall in 66 years.
At the provincial level, Ordu on the Black Sea coast received the highest rainfall, with 206.7 kilograms per square meter. Mugla, in southwestern Türkiye, recorded the lowest level, with 35.6 kilograms per square meter.
The report said rainfall stayed above seasonal norms in almost all provinces, except Ardahan, Aydin, Igdir and Kars.
However, not every region saw an increase. Rainfall dropped by more than 20% in western Aydin and Mugla, southwestern Antalya, and around Igdir and Ardahan. In Demre, Finike and Kumluca, the decline exceeded 60%.
Türkiye also saw more rainy days than usual in May. The national average reached 15.2 rainy days, compared with the 1991-2020 average of 10.3 days.
Rainy days exceeded 25 in parts of the Black Sea region, as well as around Nevsehir, Aksaray, Yozgat, Kayseri, Sivas and northern parts of eastern Türkiye.
By contrast, the number of rainy days fell below five in southwestern Antalya and coastal parts of Mugla.
All seven regions recorded rainfall above both long-term averages and May 2025 levels.
The Marmara region received 68.6 kilograms per square meter, up 52% from the seasonal norm. The Aegean region recorded 71.7 kilograms per square meter, while rainfall in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Central Anatolia and southeastern Türkiye rose by over 100% compared with May 2025.
Eastern Anatolia saw a more moderate increase, with rainfall reaching 96.8 kilograms per square meter, up 48% from the long-term average and 44% from last year.
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