What's the weather like in Kalkan?   This has got to be one of the most commonly asked questions when British people are planning to come to this wonderful part of the Turquoise Coast. 

Let's be honest, the Brits do have an obsession with the weather.

So, bearing that in mind, KTLN thought it may be useful to tell you something about the Kalkan climate and weather.

Typically, you get a wet winter and a sunny, dry summer that may give rise to drought conditions.  You can observe similar climates in the Cape Town area of South Africa, central Chile and south western Australia.

As Kalkan is situated on the coast, the hot summer temperatures are ameliorated by the Mediterranean Sea. 

However it can still get a bit uncomfortable for many people in the mid-day sun of late July and August, (mad dogs and Englishmen excepted). 

In winter the same moderating effect of the sea means that it very rarely freezes or snows.  In the winter of 2008/9 one night saw a light dusting of snow settle, and water in the KTLN mop bucket froze, but it was all gone before the morning was over.

Typical weather conditions in Kalkan - the statistics, as detailed on Holiday-Weather.com

• Kalkan weather in January
• Kalkan weather in February
• Kalkan weather in March
• Kalkan weather in April
• Kalkan weather in May
• Kalkan weather in June
• Kalkan weather in July
• Kalkan weather in August
• Kalkan weather in September
• Kalkan weather in October
• Kalkan weather in November
• Kalkan weather in December

Kalkan Temperatures
You can see average temperatures above.  In brief, July and August are the hottest months, with many days capable of reaching well into the 40s centigrade. 

May, June, September and October are hot, but without the peak temperatures of mid summer.  It is still very warm in April and November. 

Out of season, between December and March, it is still pleasantly warm during the day, but evening temperatures can be quite cool, and the nights can be cold.

Kalkan Precipitation
You can see average precipitation levels above.  In brief, according to the statistics, December, January and February see the most rain. 

It can be torrential when it comes, and given that Kalkan is at the foot of a mountain, you can witness torrents whooshing down the roads to the harbour.  Certain roads can be severely damaged by these storm flash floods.  

In the winter months Kalkan has been known to have hail storms.  The size of the hail can be enough to cause damage to greenhouses, property and cars - not to mention humans!

Some of the winter thunder and lightning displays can be spectacular.  We have even had the occasional tornado - as seen here (above) from 12th March 2008.

The chance of rain peters out as you reach the summer months, but you can't rule it out completely.  If you are unlucky enough to get summer rain, it is usually brief, and can sometimes be a welcome relief from the blistering heat.

Kalkan Winds
The Meltemi winds, also known as the northern Etesians, are prevalent in the summer months. 

They tend to come from the north to north west, blowing warm air down the Aegean Sea, with maximum speeds building up through the day, and then dying out in the evening. 

Weather conditons associated with this wind are warm temperatures and blue, cloudless skies.  The cooling effect of these winds is most welcome on hot summer days.

You can read more about the Meltemi winds here: www.sailingissues.com

The Khamsin wind is the name given to the dry, dusty and mostly hot wind that heads across the Mediterranean from Africa.  The temperature of these winds can be in excess of 40 degrees centigrade, and the air has very little humidity, bringing an experience that is not dissimilar to a hairdryer.  You can tell when they have been because as well as the heat, everything is covered in a layer of dust.  These winds are most frequent in the spring, from February to June, but they can also visit Kalkan in summer.

If you want to read a brilliant poem by the American poet Clinton Scollard (1860-1932), about the Khamsin, please click on the following link:  Khamsin Poem

Kalkan Humidity
It is said that Kalkan does not suffer from humidity, and to a large extent this is true, especially if Kalkan is experiencing the Meltemi or Khamsin winds.  However, in the hottest months of July and August, when there is little breeze, humidity levels can be quite high.  The short walk from your air-conditioned residence, into Kalkan, to your favourite restaurant will be enough to tell you what the humidity level is.

Check out KTLN's very own Kalkan Weather forecast
From March 2011, KTLN has its very own Kalkan Weather forecast, complete with a 14 day outlook.  To find out more about this unique weather service, click on the following link: KTLN's Kalkan Weather

KTLN members can see a copy of this article in the KTLN Knowledge Bank, Miscellaneous section, under Kalkan Climate & Seasons