Climate - Izmir (Turkey)

In Izmir (or Smyrna), a big Turkish city on the Aegean Sea, the climate is Mediterranean, with relatively mild winters and hot, sunny summers.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 675 millimeters (26.5 inches) per year, and is most abundant in autumn and winter, while in summer, it rains very rarely. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to mid-March, is relatively mild and quite rainy: the average temperature in January is 8 °C (46.5 °F), and it rains on average about 9 days per month. The city is less exposed to cold waves than Istanbul, however, cold air masses can arrive here as well, leading to night frosts. The coldest record is -8.2 °C (17.2 °F) and was set in January 1942.
Snow is rare, but not impossible: for example, it snowed in February 2012.

Spring, from mid-March to May, is very mild, and while the weather is still a bit unstable in March, later, it gradually becomes sunnier, and with less rainfall.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny. Typically, the humidity is not very high, and sea breezes blow, in addition, an insistent wind from the north, the Meltemi, can blow, although less often than in the central part of the Aegean Sea. However, there may be periods of intense heat, with highs of 38 °C (100 °F) or more.

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is pleasantly warm and sunny at the beginning, while rainy periods become more frequent over the weeks. However, October is often still a pleasant and sunny month, especially in the first half.



The amount of sunshine in Izmir is great in summer, when the sky is practically always clear, while in winter, sunny periods alternate with periods of bad weather, with cloudy skies. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea in Izmir is never very warm, since in summer, the north wind prevents it from warming up by much, however, it is warm enough for swimming from July to September. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best times to visit Izmir, for exploring the city, the monuments and the neighbouring towns such as Ephesus and Pergamum, are spring and autumn, ie the months of April and May, and from mid-September to mid-October. In fact, summer is often very hot, especially in July and August.
For a beach holiday, you can go from June to September.
September is probably the best compromise between seaside and cultural tourism, if you wish to do both.

Izmir - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

---

In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Izmir is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.8 °C (38.9 °F) and a maximum of 12.2 °C (54 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -6.6 °C (20.1 °F) in January 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64.5 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In February, the weather in Izmir is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.8 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.4 °C (39.8 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -7.1 °C (19.2 °F) in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In March, the weather in Izmir is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.6 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and a maximum of 16.6 °C (61.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in March 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In April, the weather in Izmir is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) and a maximum of 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 33.6 °C (92.5 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In May, the weather in Izmir is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14.2 °C (57.5 °F) and a maximum of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

In June, the weather in Izmir is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.9 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (65 °F) and a maximum of 31.4 °C (88.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in June 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

In July, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Izmir is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 27.4 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 20.8 °C (69.5 °F) and a maximum of 34.1 °C (93.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15 °C (59 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 43 °C (109.4 °F) in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

---

In August, the weather in Izmir is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 27.3 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 20.8 °C (69.5 °F) and a maximum of 33.8 °C (92.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it dropped to 13 °C (55.4 °F) in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 44 °C (111.2 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24.5 °C (75.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

---

In September, the weather in Izmir is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.1 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 16.6 °C (61.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.6 °C (85.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in September 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in September 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (74 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

---

In October, the weather in Izmir is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.7 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 12.8 °C (55 °F) and a maximum of 24.6 °C (76.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (70 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

In November, the weather in Izmir is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 8.3 °C (47 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in November 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in November 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

In December, the weather in Izmir is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.7 °C (56.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.