Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Tornado Climatology of Turkey

Abdullah Kahraman Graduate School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

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Paul M. Markowski Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

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Print Publication:
01 Jun 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-13-00364.1
Page(s):
2345–2352
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Abstract

A climatology of tornadoes in Turkey is presented using records from a wide variety of sources (e.g., the Turkish State Meteorological Service, European Severe Weather Database, newspaper archives, Internet searches, etc.). The climatology includes the annual, diurnal, geographical, and intensity distributions of both mesocyclonic and nonmesocyclonic tornadoes. From 1818 to 2013, 385 tornado cases were obtained. The tornadoes range from F0 to F3, with F1 being the most frequently reported or inferred intensity. Mesocyclonic tornadoes are most likely in May and June, and a secondary maximum in frequency is present in October and November. Nonmesocyclonic tornadoes (waterspouts) are most common in the winter along the (southern) Mediterranean coast and in the fall along the Black Sea (northern) coast. Tornadoes (both mesocyclonic and nonmesocyclonic) are most likely in the afternoon and early evening hours.

Corresponding author address: Abdullah Kahraman, Graduate School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul 34469, Turkey. E-mail: kahraman@meteogreen.com

Abstract

A climatology of tornadoes in Turkey is presented using records from a wide variety of sources (e.g., the Turkish State Meteorological Service, European Severe Weather Database, newspaper archives, Internet searches, etc.). The climatology includes the annual, diurnal, geographical, and intensity distributions of both mesocyclonic and nonmesocyclonic tornadoes. From 1818 to 2013, 385 tornado cases were obtained. The tornadoes range from F0 to F3, with F1 being the most frequently reported or inferred intensity. Mesocyclonic tornadoes are most likely in May and June, and a secondary maximum in frequency is present in October and November. Nonmesocyclonic tornadoes (waterspouts) are most common in the winter along the (southern) Mediterranean coast and in the fall along the Black Sea (northern) coast. Tornadoes (both mesocyclonic and nonmesocyclonic) are most likely in the afternoon and early evening hours.

Corresponding author address: Abdullah Kahraman, Graduate School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul 34469, Turkey. E-mail: kahraman@meteogreen.com
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