Strong easterly winds that hit northern Israel early Sunday destroyed the boardwalk in the city of Tiberias as well as several beaches on the Sea of Galilee, officials said.
"The damage from the storm is devastating," Tiberias Acting Mayor Boaz Yosef said. "We're talking about eastern winds of unusual force."
He claimed the high level of water in Israel's only freshwater lake, after a rich rainy season, was responsible for much of the damage.
"The easterly winds caused the waves to break on the promenade and the shoreline," he said.
Wind storm - Damage to the Tiberias promenade
"I was shocked when I saw the damages. It looks like it was taken from an American horror movie. I didn't believe that the Tiberias' beautiful promenade could be ruined in several hours," he said.
Yosef said the municipality will focus on safety as they hurry to rebuild the damage, including potholes that appeared in the wake of the windstorm.
"We'll turn to the interior and tourism ministries for a helping hand," he said. "Every year in the spring months the winds come from the East … When the water level isn't high the damage is contained, but this year - because of the strong waves - the damage is unprecedented."
Local officials decided to evacuate campers on the nearby beaches, which remain closed this morning.
However, many stayed on, leaving camping equipment scattered on the beaches along with fallen branches and trees.