Rain, snow to threaten travel across Turkey into this weekend

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

March 15,2017, 9:39:50AM,EDT

 

 

A potent storm will descend on Turkey from Friday into Saturday to unleash another round of wind, rain and snow.
The storm will cause widespread travel disruptions across the country.
Rain and snow are expected in Ankara on Friday before ending as a period of light snow on Friday night. Snowfall accumulations of 2-5 cm (1-2 inches) are possible which could cause some minor travel delays.

The storm will intensify as it moves eastward, bringing the greatest impacts to the eastern half of Turkey from Friday night into Saturday.
Heavy and prolonged snowfall will impact areas from Kayseri to Erzincan and Erzurum and last through the day on Saturday.
Widespread snowfall of 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) is expected through Saturday in these areas with local amounts up to 60 cm (24 inches) in the highest elevations.
Related:
Turkey Weather Center
Interactive Turkey weather satellite
Detailed Ankara weather forecast
Elsewhere, warmer air will prevail resulting in rain along the Black Sea coastline and across the lower elevations of southern Turkey.
Rainfall totals of 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) will be common with local amounts over 100 mm (4 inches), which could result in flooding.
Unsettled weather has been lashing Turkey the past several days. Forty-nine people were injured after three hot air balloons were forced to make hard landings in central Turkey on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
The balloons were carrying primarily tourists when strong winds suddenly forced the need to conduct emergency landings.
Yet another storm system will bring additional rain and snow to Turkey early next week. However, impacts are expected to be less widespread.