Highways to J'lem to be blocked ahead of winter storm
The race to buy generators has begun as officials warn residents, primarily in Jerusalem and Safed, to prepare for winter storm and likely power outages.
After realizing the level of unpreparedness in Israel last year, municipalities have called on citizens to prepare their homes for winter weather ahead of time "as is customary in cold weather countries."
The police are also preparing for the storm and have decided to block Highway 1 and Route 443, the main roads connecting between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, to traffic as soon as the snow begins to pile up.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat advised both Israelis and tourists alike who wish to see the holy city blanketed in white to come a day before it starts snowing.
The guidelines and preperations for the storm were primarily directed at residents of the cities who were hit the hardest during the last big winter storm in December 2013 – such as Jerusalem and Safed. Residents were recommended to prepare water bottles and basic foods that can last for up to three days – such as bread, canned goods and shelf-stable milk.
Tamir Engel, the Safed municipality spokesman, said the extra caution was necessary because "power outages may occur during the storm" and also said that officials "expect stagnation and do not know how many food delivery trucks will be able to enter the city."
Officials have also recommended residents acquire emergency lights in case of long-lasting power outages, back-up chargers for mobile phones, flashlights, a radio, and batteries.
"Last year," says Engel, "residents who remained at home without power used flashlights on mobile phones and this is how their phones lost battery life and resulted in us completely losing contact with them."
Municipalities also recommended residents acquire ovens that do not require electricity – such as gas stoves, kerosene heaters or wood stoves for those who have access, and while they made it clear that they do not expect every resident to purchase a generator – they recommended small generators for emergencies and an emergency extinguisher be purchased by those who can afford them.
Authorities in Safed and Jerusalem told residents to have shovels ready, "as is customary in cold weather countries," said Engel. "That way the moment that the snow starts piling up the residents will be able to clear the path between homes and parking spaces."
The storm is expected to hit on Tuesday afternoon, after the first snowfall of the season already started piling up on Mount Hermon over the weekend. The stormy weather and heavy rainfall expected could result in flooding. The Hermon mountain will be hit with a snow storm, and overnight Tuesday the snow will spread to the northern Golan Heights and the tops of the Galilee mountains. Light snow is expected to fall in cities and communities located over 600 meters above sea level. Moderate to severe amounts of snow are expected in communities 800 meters or more above sea level.
Strong winds of up to 100kph are expected on Tuesday which will create massive waves at sea that could reach dozens of meters in height.
On Wednesday, the height of the storm, it'll be rainy, cold and stormy. Snow is expected to fall in northern mountains over 600 meters above sea level and spread to mountains in central Israel and to Jerusalem. There is a serious concern of flooding in low-lying areas. Snow might fall at the tops of the Negev mountains on Wednesday night. Winds will continue to be very strong and the sea will continue being stormy.
The storm is expected to subside on Thursday.
The Israel Airports Authority also started preparations for the stormy weather. Equipment that might move as result of the strong winds and risk airplanes was pinned down, and international flights scheduled to leave from the older Terminal 1 were moved to Terminal 3 starting Tuesday at midnight and until Thursday at midnight. Terminal 1 will resume normal activity on Friday morning.
Smaller airlines like Israir and Arkia will move their activity from Sde Dov to Ben-Gurion Airport.
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