Blanket of snow covers Jerusalem

After two years of disappointment, snow finally hits Jerusalem; residents wake up to white city as public transportation, schools shut down

Published: 03.02.12 , 11:15

After two years of disappointment, snow has finally hit Jerusalem on Friday, as residents woke up to a white city.

The snow is expected to continue falling throughout the morning, after four centimeters (1.575 inches) of snowfall have already piled up in the streets of Israel's capital.

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Schools and public transportation across the city have been shut down, including intercity bus routes to Jerusalem. Police officials have instructed to halt any public buses making their way from Tel Aviv to the capital, except for buses coming in from northern Israel.

שלג הבוקר בגוש עציון (צילום: אלון מסטיי)

Snow in Gush Etzion (Photo: Alon Masti)

Around 4 am Friday morning snow began to fall in the French Hill, Gilo and the Western Wall, as it spread across the city. Some 50 snowplows, sodium chloride (rock salt) and other deicing equipment were on standby, prepared by the Jerusalem municipality.

משחקים בשלג בגן סאקר בירושלים (צילום: גיל יוחנן)

Gan Saker, Jerusalem (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Heavy snow also fell in Gush Etzion, as the local council announced schools will be shutdown due to the harsh weather conditions. Police closed off all the roads in the area.

שלג בקריית ארבע (צילום: חגי גלאס)

Kiryal Arba covered in white (Photo: Hagai Glass)

Many other roads in the West Bank have been blocked due to the weather conditions as snow falls in many locations, including Hebron and Kiryat Arba.

שלג בקשת, רמת הגולן (צילום: אוהד צבר)

Snowfalls piles up in Golan Heights (Photo: Ohad Tzabar)

Police also closed off roads in the northern Golan Heights due to the weather conditions in the area, as 15 centimeters (some 6 inches) of snowfall piled up in Misgav Am. Meanwhile, a wall collapsed in Safed as snow piled up in the northern city causing schools to shutdown.

אפרת מושלגת (צילום: יאיר קאופמן)

Efrat on Friday (Photo: Yair Kaufman)

The wintery weather means good news to Lake Kinneret as well, as water levels have risen by 9 centimeters in the past 24 hours, reaching 212.28 meters below sea level, the Water Authority reported.