Is Turkey's "pastırma summer" over? Warmer days are on the way after the snow

Snow in early November, and now everyone is asking the same thing: is the warm spell known as "pastırma yazı" coming back? Short answer: temperatures are about to rise.

What is pastırma yazı?

Pastırma yazı (literally "pastırma summer", Turkey's version of an Indian summer) is a short warm spell between autumn and winter. It usually shows up from late October to mid-November.

Days are sunny and warmer than normal. Nights, though, turn properly chilly. High-pressure systems are behind it.

This year it is expected to run from 25 October to 15 November.

What happened this week?

A cold snap hit in the first days of November. In Ankara, sleet fell, and snow settled at higher elevations. Many people assumed the warm days were gone for good.

Forecaster Fevzi Burak Tekin of the General Directorate of Meteorology says temperatures that have been running below seasonal norms will rise back to normal levels in the coming days. He said Ankara should see around 18 degrees on Friday.

According to the meteorological data, from the second week of November temperatures are expected to climb above seasonal norms.

What's next?

So the cold is not here to stay just yet. Expect a milder stretch ahead, with sunny afternoons and cold nights.

Keep a light jacket handy. The gap between daytime and night-time temperatures can be big at this time of year.