Snow spreads southwards
After hours of envy hearing about snow in the Golan Heights, Jerusalem kids get their share too. In Upper Galilee school pupils sent home. Snowstorms on Mount Hermon
They waited with bated breath, seeing the snow pile up in the Golan Heights, and finally they too got to enjoy the sight of white flakes – snow in Jerusalem on Thursday morning! The snow was mixed with rain and hail, and at midday Thursday it was not clear whether it would settle. The city decided to hold classes as usual.
The Galilee also experienced snow late Thursday morning, including in Safed. In Kibbutz Sasa, at the foot of Mount Meron, classes were cancelled, and school children were bussed home. Other schools in the region decided in advance not to open their doors, while in Kfar Giladi some classes are still being held.
Jerusalem on Thursday morning. (Photo: Olga Gouresky)
Snow is expected to continue to fall in the higher mountains in the north, and in the central region it is expected to fall but not settle. Lower regions will have rain and strong winds. Meteo-Tech said that floods are possible in the Negev region. Towards Thursday evening the rain will ease, and return on Friday evening.
On Mount Hermon 15 cm (6 inches) of snow fell during the night at the lower cable car station and 30 cm (12 inches) on the higher station.
Snow on Mount Hermon (Photo: Liron Sinai)
A snowstorm in the northern Golan Heights began early, with 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) of snow falling during the night. Some schools cancelled classes, and many roads in the Golan were closed to traffic.
Snow piled up to half a meter (20 inches). The site manager, Menachem Baruch, told Ynet that "The site will be closed during the day and there is a real danger of traffic accidents. I suggest that anyone who wants to make a trip should wait till tomorrow."
Preparations for cold weather were made Wednesday in Jerusalem. MDA said that rescue vehicles able to handle deep snow were prepared in the morning and taken to various points around the city to enable speedy response. Teams were briefed regarding treatment of hypothermia, and ambulances were issued with blankets.
