On Sunday afternoon electricity consumption hit an all-time national record in the country with 14,089 megawatts (MW), topping by 135 MW the previous record set earlier this year during a hear wave in May.
Israel is undergoing an extreme heatwave that began on Saturday and intensified Sunday, with temperatures approaching 50° Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.
The Israel Meteorological Service registered temperatures including 42°C (107.6°F) in Eilat, 38°C (100.4°F) in Jerusalem, 47°C (116.6°F) in Tiberias and 33°C (91.4°F) in Haifa. The heatwave is expected to last all week.
The Health Ministry issued a statement calling on the public to wear face masks and adhere to social distancing guidelines, as the coronavirus infection rate continuing to be elevated.
Israelis, especially those with chronic conditions and senior citizens, should "avoid exposure to heat and sun, as well as unnecessary physical exertion, while drinking water and residing in air-conditioned places as much as possible," the ministry said.
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Car meter shows 51 degrees in the morning near the Sea of Galilee
(Photo: Kinneret Aurthority)
In May, the Health Ministry temporarily allowed Israelis to refrain from wearing face masks owing to the extreme weather conditions.
Israel's Nature and Parks Authority banned hiking across certain routes, including in the Judaean Desert, until temperatures go down.
First published: 22:46, 08.30.20