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Photo: Aviyahu Shapira
Snowman at Mount Hermon
Photo: Aviyahu Shapira

Israel on alert as winter storm nears

Major storm to bring rain, heavy winds, rough seas with serious concern of flooding. Police preparing to seal off roads in north and J'lem ahead of expected snow tonight.

Israel is preparing for the effects of a strong storm expected on Tuesday night, with the police, local authorities, the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), Israel Railways and even the IDF taking extra measures to ensure that damages such as those caused by last winter's storm are not repeated. The next three days will see heavy winds with expected gusts of up to 90mph and very heavy rainfall from the Galilee to the Negev, which forecasts say will cause flooding, damages and a risk of over-flooding rivers.

 

 

The abrupt change in the weather will be felt during the day, ahead of the drop in temperatures tonight. Sand storms are expected in the first half of the day in the south, with heavy haze in central Israel. The Mediterranean Sea will be rough, with waves 3-6 meters in height during the day and an expected 9 meters at night.

 

Live from beach at Kibbutz Zikim

 

The rain will spread this afternoon from the north to the central coastal plain, and will bring thunderstorms and occasional hail. Due to the winds and haze, airport and seaport operations will be limited. According to the Meteorological Service, snow is expected to fall in the Golan starting in the evening hours and will blanket the summit areas of the Galilee mountains and in Safed.

 

Preparing for storm from Mount Hermon to the south
Preparing for storm from Mount Hermon to the south

 

On Wednesday, the height of the storm, it will 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.

 

IEC: We drew conclusions from last year

Sources at the Israel Electric Corporation say that preparations have been made for the winter ahead and that they will implement the conclusions of a committee tasked with reviewing last winter's storm, which left tens of thousands without power. The IEC further said that it has stocks of fuel available for emergency situations. In addition, maintenance and repair work has been carried out which included extensive pruning of tree branches from electricity wires.

 

Surfer at Beit Yanai beach (Photo: Eli Hasson) (Photo: Eli Hasson)
Surfer at Beit Yanai beach (Photo: Eli Hasson)

 

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.

 

Rain clouds over Ramat Gan (Photo: Hila Daphna) (Photo: Hila Dafna)
Rain clouds over Ramat Gan (Photo: Hila Daphna)

  

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."

 

Israel Railways is also preparing for the storm, and will deploy technical personnel along rail lines which are prepared to salt railroad tracks if necessary. In addition, teams of technicians will provide assistance in some of the trains.

 

Preparing for storm in Netanya (Photo: Ido Erez) (Photo: Ido Erez)
Preparing for storm in Netanya (Photo: Ido Erez)

 

Head of the operations wing in the traffic department, Chief Superintendent Albert Asraf, said that police will be working in 12-hour shifts ahead and during the storm. "Snow is expected in Route 1 and Route 443 leading to and from Jerusalem and in roads in the Golan Heights and Safed. We are in contact with the Meteorological Service and as the forecast for snow comes, we will seal these roads off roads and we will prevent driver from entering them."

 

Safed Municipal workers briefed ahead of storm (Photo: Safed municipality) (Photo: Safed municipality)
Safed Municipal workers briefed ahead of storm (Photo: Safed municipality)

 

The IDF has also began preparations to assist with storm-related efforts. Units of fighters currently in training in the north are reserved as emergency squads that are prepared to aid isolated communities hit hardest by the storm.

 

The squads are expected to concentrate most of their efforts in upper Galilee communities such as Safed, Peki'in and Beit Jann, where the snow may build up and block the roads to the towns. For this purpose, the IDF has prepared to deploy armored personnel carriers and bulldozers, and have available stocks of fuel and food in case of emergency. Similar teams operating within the framework of the Home Front Command will be working in Jerusalem and its neighboring towns.

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.06.15, 10:11
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