For the first time this season, the water level in Lake Kinneret has started to rise.
The level of the lake, also known as the Sea of Galilee, rose by one centimeter to reach a level of 212.965 meters below sea level. The rise came as a direct result of the downpours that drenched various parts of the country over the past several days.
The southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon was flooded on Monday morning in fact, with its streets transformed into little rivers and drivers left to navigate vehicles that were turned into boats.
More than an inch of rain dropped on to the city within the space of a few minutes; navy police were called to help rescue crews in the port city. The water flooded parts of Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center as well, reaching the Emergency Room.
The Kinneret, which is the lowest freshwater lake on the planet, is one of the most important sources of water for the State of Israel.