The Israel Meteorological Service reported on Monday that the hot weather in August followed July which was significantly hotter than average and June, which was unusually warm. The three months this summer made it the hottest on record by a notable margin since spatial measurements began in 1950. The second hottest was 2012, with a gap of 1°C (1.8°F).
"The Meteorological Service's summer report confirms what we all felt: 2024's summer was the hottest in Israel since measurements began," said Israel Meteorological Service Director Dr. Amir Givati.
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The Sea of Galilee
(Photo: Michael Karoptzky, Kinneret Association of Municipalities)
"This summer broke temperature and heat stress records, continuing and intensifying the trend of accelerated warming in Israel. The average temperature in Israel has risen by 0.6°C (1.1°F) in the past decade," he added.
According to the Meteorological Service, August was 1°C to 1.5°C (1.8 to 2.7°F) hotter than average compared to previous years. It ranks as the sixth hottest in the national series of spatial measurements since 1950.
On Israel's coastal plain, August was even 1.5°C to 2°C (2.7°F to 3.6°F) hotter than average, ranking third or fourth since measurements began. This was reflected in the many hours of extreme heat stress in the area. Although the number of extreme heat hours was lower than in July, it was still among the highest ever recorded.
In the central and southern regions, August was 1°C to 1.5°C (1.8°F to 2.7°F) hotter than average, both during the day and at night. In northern Israel, the difference from the average was smaller, with August being 0.5°C to 1°C (0.9°F to 1.8°F) hotter than average during the day and at night. In the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights, daytime temperatures were close to or slightly above average by about 0.5°C (0.9°F).
Most days in August had above-average temperatures, although no extreme values were recorded. While the number of extreme heat hours in August was lower than what was seen in July (which broke records in this measurement), it was still very high.
The number of extreme heat hours on the coastal plain in August 2024 compared to past years was among the highest ever, similar to very hot Augusts like those in 2015, 2012 and 2010.