First, those of you reading this report in countries where shoveling an inch of snow to get your car out of the driveway in the morning – please stop giggling. Over in the Middle East, this is a big deal. Also, the gales and the amazingly plentiful rainfall come after several near-drought years, with the glorious national lake, the Kinneret receding to the point where new island have been popping all over the place. So give Israelis a break.
Credit for all the videos on this page: Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Monday night saw an increase in the intensity of the rains in the north of the country, which were accompanied by thunderstorms. It’s the continuation of the winter system that hit Israel on Sunday and is expected to reach its peak Tuesday night. There will be massive rainfall throughout the country and a chance for snow in the northern mountains.
Wednesday will see yet another cold wave, with occasional rain descending in the north and center of the country – but it will grow weaker gradually.
But, like we said, this is the Middle East, so on Thursday the trend changes with warming and clearing on the way to a comfortable weekend, great for trips, especially up north.
But Tuesday will be particularly wintry, the rain will continue to fall and snow is expected on Mount Hermon and the northern Golan Heights. In the center of the country the wind will grow stronger during the day, with wind speed ranging between will range from 25 to 40 mph, and there may be stronger gusts.
Southern Israel will see strong winds that will culminate in haze in the afternoon. The rain will spread to the central region, and at night the peak of the winter system will arrive: extreme cold, rain and possible snowfall in the northern mountains above 2,700 feet, reaching the central mountains.
The Kinneret Authority reports an impressive flow in the Galilee and Golan streams on their way down to the Sea of Galilee. But the KA is still hoping for even more rainfall to help irrigate agricultural areas, and fill up the river beds, reservoirs and aquifers – and, of course, the holy grail of weather forecasters – raise the level of the Sea of Galilee.
Following Monday’s heavy snowfall, the Hermon ski site will remain closed until Wednesday. The snow up there has been piling up to reach 22 inches on the lower level. The Hermon management will announce the date of reopening the site.