August 2015 was second-hottest since 1935
Scorching temperatures and drenching humidity made August 2015 a somewhat unpleasant record breaker.
August 2015 saw two major heat waves, during which Israelis experienced heavy-to-extreme heat stress. It came on the heels of a hotter-than-usual second half of July, but July's first half and the entirety of June were cooler than usual.
Temperatures in August were two degrees higher than average along the coastal plain, day and night. In the northern mountains area, the northern valleys area, and central Israel, temperatures were similarly higher during the day, and above one degree higher than usual during nights. In the south, temperatures were higher than average by slightly less than two degrees during day and night hours.
Along the coastal plain, temperatures were higher than average for the entire month. In the mountain and internal areas of Israel, however, temperatures were higher than average during most of August, but close to average or slightly lower near its end.
August's first heat wave actually started at the end of July, and ended on August 4. The peak was August 2, when temperatures of 49 degrees were recorded in the Arava area and in Gilgal. Humidity was also quite the concern for Israelis, and along the coasts it could be felt at up to 90 percent, with 85 percent in the Jezreel Valley and the norh-west Negev areas.
The second heat wave came on August 16, when temperatures of up to 46 degrees in the Jordan Valley north of Beit She'an and Arava areas were recorded, 43 degrees noted in the northern valleys and northern Negev area, 40 degrees in the Shfela and southern Golan, and 37 degrees were recorded along the coastal plain, which combined with 70 percent humidity made for a nearly intolerable situation. The Meteorological service mentioned that August 2015 set a new record for their Nir Ha'emek station, which registered 41.5 degrees.
