Heavy rain hits Mersin and Adana citrus coast

From 09:00 on 27 October to 09:00 on 30 October 2026, Turkey time, stations of the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) in Adana and Mersin provinces recorded up to 165.8 mm of rain at Karataş in Adana, 159.0 mm at Erdemli and 156.0 mm at the Akdere forest station in Silifke, in Mersin, and 13 of the 61 stations with complete data measured more than 100 mm, according to a Wikifarmer analysis of MGM data. The rain fell after Turkey's Ministry of Trade had permitted the harvest of early mandarins, Satsuma, grapefruit and Navelina oranges in the two provinces, and before the harvest permit for Lamas lemons and Washington navel oranges, which in the last eight years was given between 31 October and 17 November.

Thirteen stations recorded more than 100 mm in three days

MGM reports each station's rain for the 24 hours ending at 09:00 Turkey time. Of the three 24-hour periods to 30 October, the last was the wettest, with 14 stations in the two provinces recording 50 mm or more, against five in the previous period and one in the first. At Karataş, on the coast of the Adana plain, the station measured 55.8, 37.0 and 73.0 mm in the three periods, while at Erdemli, west of Mersin city, the rain came in the last two, with 109.0 and 50.0 mm. The Tarsus station recorded 133.2 mm, the agricultural research station (TAGEM) at Yüreğir in Adana 111.6 mm, and the central station of Mersin city 64.6 mm, 1.8 times the 35.7 mm that falls there on average in the whole of October, according to MGM's 1991-2020 climate normals. The stations with the most rain also include mountain stations north of Adana, such as Aladağ with 145.3 mm and Pozantı with 106.2 mm.

The MGM stations with the most rain in Adana and Mersin from 27 to 30 October 2026

Source: Wikifarmer analysis of station rainfall from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM), sum of the 24-hour periods ending at 09:00 on 28, 29 and 30 October 2026, and MGM's 1991-2020 climate normals for Mersin.

MGM had an orange warning in force for 29 October

For 29 October, MGM had an orange warning in force because locally very heavy and severe showers and thunderstorms of 51 to 100 kg per square metre, that is 51 to 100 mm, were expected in seven districts of Adana, among them Seyhan, Yüreğir, Çukurova and Karataş, and in 13 districts of Mersin, from Akdeniz and Tarsus to Erdemli, Silifke and Anamur. In the warning, MGM called for care and precautions against flash floods, flooding, landslides, transport disruption, lightning, local hail, strong winds during the rain and tornadoes. The MGM warnings in force at midday on 30 October, all of them yellow and for provinces in southeastern and eastern Turkey, no longer included Adana or Mersin.

The harvest of early mandarins and Navelina oranges had already been permitted

For each variety and region, Turkey's Ministry of Trade publishes the date from which harvest is permitted and the date from which export is permitted, and for Adana and Mersin the dates are set by the Central Mediterranean Regional Directorate of Customs and Foreign Trade. In the 2026 list, harvest was permitted from 11 September for Meyer lemons, from 29 September for Interdonato lemons and the early mandarins Okitsu, Miho Wase, Primasol, Marisol and Early Enn, from 13 October for Satsuma and Dobashi Beni mandarins and Star Ruby grapefruit, and from 20 October for Navelina and Fukumoto oranges and Ruby Red, Rio Red and Marsh Seedless grapefruit. The export permit follows six to ten days later, for Navelina oranges from 27 October, so the rain of 27 to 30 October fell in the first days after the variety's export permit. The orange varieties and other citrus ripen in different weeks, so the harvest is scheduled variety by variety.

The Lamas lemon harvest was permitted between 31 October and 17 November in the last eight years

In the same list, the harvest of Lamas lemons and Washington navel oranges in Adana and Mersin was permitted from 2 November in 2018, 31 October in 2019, 5 and 8 November respectively in 2020, 15 November in 2021, 17 November in 2022, 15 November in 2023, 11 November in 2024 and 7 November in 2025, together with the Kütdiken lemon variety in 2022, 2023 and 2025. On 30 October the list did not yet have a 2026 date for these varieties, so the rain fell before their lemon harvest permit, and in none of the years from 2018 to 2025 was the permit given before 31 October.

The Lamas lemon permit is the next official date for producers and buyers

For producers in the two provinces, the rain fell at a time when the harvest of the early varieties was already permitted, while for Lamas lemons and Washington navel oranges it was not yet permitted. The Adana Governorship's announcements up to 30 October contained no estimate of crop damage, and the Ministry of Trade's announcement of the Lamas lemon harvest date is the next official information on the region's calendar. For citrus buyers, the same month brought heavy rain at the start of the harvest to another origin as well, as DANA Adam brought more than 300 mm of rain in southern Valencia and northern Alicante between 14 and 20 October.

Frequently asked questions

How much rain fell in Adana and Mersin?

From 09:00 on 27 October to 09:00 on 30 October, MGM stations recorded up to 165.8 mm at Karataş in Adana, 159.0 mm at Erdemli and 156.0 mm at the Akdere forest station in Silifke, in Mersin, and 13 of the 61 stations with complete data had more than 100 mm.

Was there a warning for the rain?

Yes. For 29 October, MGM had an orange warning in force because locally 51 to 100 mm were expected in seven districts of Adana and 13 districts of Mersin.

Which citrus could be harvested when the rain fell?

According to the Ministry of Trade's list, the harvest was permitted in the two provinces for Meyer and Interdonato lemons, the early mandarins, Satsuma and Dobashi Beni, Star Ruby, Ruby Red, Rio Red and Marsh Seedless grapefruit, and Navelina and Fukumoto oranges.

When is the Lamas lemon harvest permitted?

From 2018 to 2025, the Ministry of Trade permitted the Lamas lemon harvest in Adana and Mersin from dates between 31 October and 17 November, depending on the year. No 2026 date had been announced by 30 October.

Is there an official damage estimate?

The Adana Governorship's announcements up to 30 October contained no estimate of crop damage, and the Lamas lemon harvest date had not yet been announced.

Important notes

Wikifarmer analysed MGM station rainfall for the 24-hour periods ending at 06:00 UTC, which is 09:00 Turkey time, on 28, 29 and 30 October 2026, as published on the service's total rainfall page, covering the 61 stations in Adana and Mersin with a value for all three periods. Station names are MGM's, and the list of stations with the most rain comes from sorting all stations in the two provinces, mountain and lowland. The comparison with the October average covers only the central Mersin station and MGM's 1991-2020 climate normals for the province. The warnings are MGM's, as in force on 29 and 30 October. The harvest and export dates are the permit dates of Turkey's Ministry of Trade, as shown on its page on 30 October, and do not show when harvesting actually started in each orchard. The Mersin Governorship's announcements page could not be read on 30 October. The article does not estimate damage, production losses or price effects.