Haze over Tel Aviv
Photo: Gil Paz
Severe air pollution across Israel
Environment Ministry issues warning to public due to heavy haze, especially in Tel Aviv area; pollution expected to dissolve Wednesday evening
Unusually high air pollution levels were measured in various areas of the country Wednesday afternoon, mainly in the Tel Aviv area.
The Environment Ministry warned Israelis not to engage in excessive exercise. The warning mainly refers to cardiac patients, elderly people and pregnant women.
Central Tel Aviv – unusual image (Photo: Gabi Menashe)
Tel Aviv's Sde Dov airport was closed due to the harsh weather conditions. It reopened Wednesday evening.
Heavy haze over Israel limited visibility. Sand storms took place in the south. Southwestern winds blew at 25-40 kilometers per hour across the country.
Heavy clouds may enter the area in the evening. Rainfalls, accompanied by lightning, thunder storms and hail, are expected.
Dr. Levana Kordova, scientific manager at the Environment Ministry's Air Monitoring Center, said that very high concentrations of polluting particles were measured in the Tel Aviv area – more than 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter.
"We can generally say that higher than usual air pollution was noted also across the country. The haze is caused by a dust storm. The natural particles, which originate in a dust storm, move over industrial and urban areas and adsorb the damaging materials, thus creating polluted area, which in different situations would have dissolved. The first rain expected to fall in the evening will wash it all away," she added.
Electric company on high alert
At Ben Gurion Airport, most flights continued to arrive and depart as scheduled. A Lufthansa flight from Germany to Israel landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, after the pilot decided not to land in Israel due to the harsh weather conditions.
The Israel Electric Corporation raised its alert level due to the stormy weather. Sources at the company said they expect a high demand for electricity Wednesday evening.
The company prepared for winds blowing up to 100 kilometers per hour, and asked the public to remove any objects which may come loose, fly in the wind and hit the electric wires, such as shutters, antennas and plants.
Eli Senyor contributed to the report
