Rains wash away the haze, but what lies ahead?
Feel free to breathe easily now that the haze is all but gone – but the storm is far from over.
The haze has all but cleared, and according to the Environmental Protection Ministry statistics, Givatyim was the hardest hit city on Thursday, with 25.5 times the normal particulate density.
Rounding out the top five were: Ariel with 21.6, Tel Aviv with 21.5, Jerusalem with 20.5, and Bet Shemesh with 16.8 times the normal pollutant rate. The suffocating haze will soon be all but a memory as a result of the rains which are set to wash all of Israel, from the North to the Negev. The rain will be accompanied by thunder storms, and flood warnings were issued for the southern river basins.
The Environmental Protection Ministry said that pollution rates were dropping sharply as a result of the rain, and that air quality was improving all over Israel.
Neighboring countries were also suffering as a result of the intense rains, which led to 11 deaths and several dozen wounded in Egypt. Three deaths were also reported in Amman as a result of the storm.
Meteo-tech meteorologist Lior Sudri said that Israeli could now open their windows and breathe, but also advised citizens to prepare for the rains. "Tomorrow will be the peak of the storm in terms of rain, which will cover all of Israel," he explained.
"Temperatures will drop and flash floods are likely during the morning hours. The sea will be choppy, with waves measuring between 60 and 120 cm's. The storm will gradually weaken on Saturday, and localized rains will continue throughout the day, possibly accompanied by thunderstorms."
Southeasterly winds will reach between 20-40 kmh on the Mediterranean, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 kmh.
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