Heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail swept across northern Israel on Saturday as rocket fire from Lebanon struck the region, while snow fell on Mount Hermon in a storm system expected to spread later in the day toward central Israel.
The rain was concentrated in the western, upper and lower Galilee and was accompanied by thunderstorms and hail. By afternoon and evening, the rain was expected to spread into central Israel.
According to the head of the Israel Meteorological Service, Dr. Amir Givati, 56 millimeters (2.2 inches) of rain fell in just three hours at Harashim in the Upper Galilee and a similar amount was recorded in Beit Jann.
The Harashim station also recorded the highest rainfall total over the previous 24 hours, with 61 millimeters (2.4 inches). It was followed by the Afek station in the Haifa Bay area, where 36.8 millimeters (1.4 inches) were recorded. At Baram, near the Lebanon border, 24.2 millimeters (1 inch) fell, while El Rom in the northern Golan Heights recorded 22.4 millimeters (0.9 inches). Haifa also saw stormy weather, with 27.7 millimeters (1.1 inches) measured at the city’s airport station over the past day.
Central Israel remained mostly dry at that stage. From the Hadera line southward, rainfall totals over the previous 24 hours ranged from 0 to 1.4 millimeters, while Jerusalem recorded 2.4 millimeters (0.09 inches).
Rain was expected later in central Israel and the northern Negev, with concerns over flash flooding in streams near the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert.
At the Mount Hermon ski resort, which has been declared a closed military zone because of the war and is shut to visitors, heavy snow had been falling since the morning. Five centimeters (2 inches) had accumulated at the lower level, and temperatures on the mountain dropped below 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Forecasters said snow was expected to continue over the next 24 hours at all elevations, ahead of another significant weather system forecast for Wednesday.
“We have mixed feelings,” site spokeswoman Micki Inbar said. “It breaks the heart that no one will be able to enjoy the magnificent snow, along with the difficult feeling that IDF soldiers are slogging through mud and the Lebanese cold.”
On Sunday, intermittent rain was forecast mainly in the north and along the coastal plain, with showers expected to gradually weaken from the afternoon. Temperatures were expected to remain below seasonal norms.
A rise in temperatures was forecast for Monday. Local rain was expected in southern Israel, and from the afternoon isolated showers could develop in the hills.
On Tuesday, local rain was forecast from northern Israel to the Negev.