Winter is making a major comeback. On Sunday, toward noon, cool, moist air will move in and temperatures will drop significantly. Local rain, mostly light, is expected mainly in northern Israel, the mountains and the east. Strong winds will blow across most parts of the country. Skies will be partly cloudy with high and midlevel clouds, and haze is expected mainly in southern Israel. Snow may begin falling on Mount Hermon in the evening. Overnight, skies will be partly cloudy to cloudy, with local rain expected mainly in the north.
Monday will be partly cloudy. Rain will fall intermittently in northern Israel, and light local rain is possible in central Israel. Snow is expected on Mount Hermon in the morning. Brisk winds will continue in most parts of the country, temperatures will drop sharply again and it will be colder than usual for the season.
Tuesday is expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy. Temperatures will remain largely unchanged and will continue to be lower than usual for the season. Drizzle is still possible in northern Israel.
Wednesday will be partly cloudy, with a slight rise in temperatures, though they will remain below seasonal averages.
Up to 30 centimeters of snow expected at Mount Hermon summit
The Israel Meteorological Service said significant rainfall is expected Monday, concentrated in northern Israel, mainly in the Galilee mountains and the Golan Heights. From Monday into Tuesday morning, 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters of rain are expected in the northern mountains, with more than 40 millimeters possible on the peaks.
Snow on Mount Hermon
(Video: Hermon Site, Mills Vacation Suites)
On Mount Hermon, snow is expected to fall from an elevation of about 1,600 meters, though without significant accumulation at that level. At the upper cable car station, 5 centimeters to 7 centimeters of snow are expected to accumulate, and up to about 30 centimeters at the summit.
Israel Meteorological Service Director Dr. Amir Givati said the system will move out Tuesday, followed by a warming and drying trend. “It is worth noting that a winter-like rain event in May, including dozens of millimeters, is rare and occurs on average once every 15 years. The previous events occurred in May 2011 and before that in May 1993,” Givati added.
Forecast temperatures for Sunday and overnight: Jerusalem 12°C -23°C, Tel Aviv 17°C-24°C, Haifa 17°C-23°C, Safed 11°C-22°C, Katzrin 14°C-27°C, Tiberias 16°C-28°C, Nazareth 15°C-25°C, Afula 16°C-27°C, Beit She’an 19°C-31°C, Lod 17°C-26°C, Ashdod 18°C-24°C, Ein Gedi 20°C-32°C, Be'er Sheba 16°C-27°C, Mitzpe Ramon 13°C-2°C and Eilat 23°C-33°C.