Heat wave drives Israelis to the beach
Intense heat across the country has driven tens of thousands of Israelis and vacationers to take to the country's numerous beaches to find a respite from intense temperatures and sun.
Palmahim Beach and the Palmahim National Park and Rishon LeZion beaches were filled to capacity with tens of thousands of beachgoers. In the north, some 30,000 travelers are expected at the Kinneret.
Despite temperatures beginning to decrease slightly in the late afternoon, humidity is expected to rise until later at night Saturday, when the heat is expected to break across the country.
In Be'er Sheva and Eilat, temperatures are over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), while in Tel Aviv, temperatures stand at a sweltering 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius). Jerusalem comes in slightly cooler at 89 F (32 C).
Officials from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Police and MDA are asking travelers to drink water, bring sunscreen and a head cover as high temperatures and intense sunlight have already led to several cases of dehydration and heat stroke.
Temperatures are expected to drop significantly Sunday, with decreases of 12-16 degrees being forecast.
(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
