Rare July snowfall blankets highlands of Rize and Trabzon, Turkey
Rare snowfall blanketed high-altitude regions of Rize and Trabzon in northeastern Turkey in early July, creating a winter-like landscape amid peak summer.
Image credit: DHA
Rare snowfall affected high-elevation areas in Turkey’s Rize and Trabzon provinces on July 2 and 3, 2025, transforming typically lush green summer plateaus into snow-covered landscapes.
According to the General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM), this phenomenon was caused by a sudden cold air mass impacting northeastern Anatolia, bringing precipitation and significantly lower temperatures to regions above 2 000 m (6 560 ft).
Snowfall was reported across plateaus including Anzer, Kavron, Samistal, and Ovit, where locals and visitors observed snow accumulation despite daytime temperatures in lower elevations ranging between 24–27°C (75–81°F). Inhabitants of mountain villages such as Çamlıhemşin, Hemşin, and İkizdere woke up to scenes resembling mid-winter.
A local journalist from Rize said this was the first time in his 65 years that he had seen snow in July. Similar conditions were observed in parts of Bayburt Province, suggesting the phenomenon affected a large area across northeastern Turkey’s mountainous spine.
While these northeastern highlands were covered in fresh snow, southwestern Turkey faced a stark contrast with extreme heat and wildfires reported near İzmir, where temperatures rose to 40°C (104°F).
Meteorologists noted that although summer snow in the Kaçkar Mountains is not unprecedented, the extent and timing of this event were highly unusual.
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