Unusual rainfall has prompted the blocking of the main southbound coastal high way south of Haifa on Tuesday. A regional school in the area informed parents that children would be sent home after the schoolgrounds were flooding in the deluge.
Rain in different parts of Israel
(Video: Raanan Ben-Tzur, Israel Moskowitz)
Dr. Amir Givati, director of the Meteorological Service, said a new rainfall record was broken in Israel, with 196 mm measured this morning in the city of Zikhron Ya'akov within just four hours. "This is an all-time record in Israel," Givati said.
The large quantities created a burden on the drainage systems, which were found to be clean and ready but could not withstand the unusual load and extraordinary amounts of water," the regional council said.
Floods at the school
According to the weather forecast, heavy rains accompanied by isolated thunderstorms are expected in the north of the country, in the center, and up to the northern Negev. There is concern for flooding in coastal and lowland cities, as well as flash floods in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. The rain will gradually weaken in the afternoon, but it is still expected to continue, albeit with larger breaks. At night, it will be partly cloudy, with local rain expected in the north and center of the country.
On Wednesday, the forecast is for partly cloudy skyes, with local rain expected in the north and center of the country, and isolated thunderstorms. As of the afternoon hours, there is a slight concern for flash floods in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea, with temperatures expected to rise.
On Thursday, conditions are expected to clear with a rise in temperatures to seasonal norms. During the morning, in the north of the country and the coastal plain, drizzle to light local rain would still be possible. On Friday, it will be mostly clear, with a further slight increase in temperatures.
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