Weather Fethiye
Fethiye is a city in the district of Mugla which sits on the south west coast, or "turquoise coast" in the Aegean region of Turkey. The city is located on the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, with many ruins visible in the city. In 1958, an earthquake flattened Fethiye, leaving only these remains. Now, it has been rebuilt into a modern and upscale hub in the western Mediterranean and is often used as a base for Turkish yacht cruises, which dock in the beautiful natural harbour area. It remains unspoiled despite its popularity, with restrictions on high rise buildings allowing it to retain its charm.
Fethiye is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey, with tourists attracted by the stunning coastline and glorious Mediterranean weather, especially in the summer. Fethiye experiences a classically Mediterranean climate, with a long, very hot and dry summer and a short and wet winter.
Though the weather in Fethiye is generally pleasant all year round, visitors can check the weather forecast online before they go.
Summer weather in Fethiye
Between late April and September, summer in Fethiye is long, dry and very hot. The season begins early, with average temperatures reaching 16°C in April and hitting 20°C in May, while high temperatures never fall below the 20's. High summer is June to September, when average daytime temperatures reach an average of 28°C and highs rise to a scorching hot 33°C in July and August.
This weather is perfect for relaxing on the beach, and while the heat can feel a little too hot at times, cool sea breezes will offer some relief. Similarly, the sunshine is relentless, and wise visitors will seek at least temporary relief in the museums and restaurants found in the town. Sunscreen is, of course, absolutely essential. The days are very long and are sunny as a rule, with average sunshine hours of 13 or 14 hours between June and August.
Typically for a Mediterranean climate, the weather is extremely dry during the summer months. April sees the last of the year's wet weather, with an average of 44mm expected, and May experiences just 27mm of rainfall. After this, rain is virtually absent in June, July and August, with levels of between 12mm and 9mm during these months, so there is no need to worry about getting caught in showers. Any rain that does fall will be in small amounts and will pass quickly.
Besides the weather, tourists are also drawn by the stunning coastline and clear waters found in the bay in which Fethiye is located. These waters are sheltered and great for swimming, not to mention pleasantly warm. The sea temperature averages 23°C in June, climbing to a peak of 27°C in August. The water remains warm in September with an average of 25°C.
Autumn weather in Fethiye
Autumn in Fethiye marks a short transitional period between summer and winter. Temperatures in October and November stay pleasant, so much that you could be fooled into thinking it was still summer, however rainfall shoots up after the dry summer months. The temperatures in autumn are very similar to spring, with an average temperature of 20°C in October and 15°C in November, however highs can still hit a balmy 24°C at the start of the season. Lows rarely ever drop below 12°C.
As you can see, the weather in autumn never gets cold, but it does get very wet making up for the dry summer. Rainfall increases to 47mm in October and then jumps further to 118mm and 9 wet days in November. Sea temperatures also begin to fall, with the water temperature dropping to 23°C in October and 20°C in November.
Despite the increase in rain, Fethiye is still bright and sunny for much of the season, with high levels of sunshine remaining. October sees 10 hours of sunshine while November sees just less at 9 hours. Along with pleasant temperatures, this makes the autumn a great time to visit Fethiye as long as you're prepared for a chance of rain. As it is outside of peak tourism season, holiday makers will be able to find great deals on accommodation at this time.
Winter weather in Fethiye
Winters in Fethiye are extremely wet and are generally off season in terms of tourism. December and January are by far the wettest months of the year, seeing rainfall levels of 124mm and 114mm respectively. Rainfall levels drop a bit in February, to a still-high 106mm, but rain tails-off noticeably as February progresses. Snow never falls in Fethiye, but it can often be seen in the surrounding mountains.
As would be expected, temperatures do drop in Fethiye in winter, but it never gets freezing cold like other parts of Europe. In fact, average daytime temperatures are very mild, ranging from 12°C in December to 10°C in January, the coldest month of the year. Temperatures do drop on an evening though, with lows of 8°C, so if you're visiting at this time of the year, it would be wise to pack some warmer layers. A cold breeze blows from time to time in the winter, and spreads cool air, which can make it feel cooler on occasions.
Winter is the least sunny time of the year in Fethiye, and many days are overcast. Still, there's an average of 7 sunny hours a day in December which rises to 8 hours of sun per day in January and February, not bad for winter!
Spring weather in Fethiye
The worst of the wet weather has passed by the time March arrives in Fethiye and the climate turns much more spring-like. Rainfall levels begin to drop dramatically as the dry summer season arrives. March sees average rainfall of 87mm and 9 wet days while April sees just 40mm spread over 7 wet days. This means that visitors will see many more dry and sunny days in the region as sunshine levels also increase to around 10 hours a day.
Warmer weather also arrives this month, which sees many tourists return to the resort to relax on the beach and soak up the high temperatures, before they get too hot. Sea temperatures are also increasing, but perhaps are still not warm enough for swimming. March sees an average day time temperature of 13°C and April is around 16°C, while high temperatures often hit 17°C and levels occasionally push well into the twenties. Summer is right around the corner once again!