A powerful winter storm swept across Israel overnight and into Tuesday, bringing fierce winds, heavy rain, snowfall in the north and widespread damage, while authorities warned of flooding and hazardous travel conditions.
Wind gusts reached about 100 kilometers per hour along the coast, peaking at 103 kph in Ashkelon, according to the Israel Meteorological Service. Rainfall totals of about 30 millimeters were recorded in the Golan Heights, Upper Galilee, northern West Bank and the Jerusalem hills, with higher amounts measured in some areas, including 36 millimeters in Jerusalem, 35 in El Rom and 33 in Ariel. Streams in the Dead Sea region began flowing.
The weather was set to remain stormy Tuesday, with heavy rain, mainly over the central highlands, accompanied by thunderstorms from the north to the northern Negev. Forecasters said the strongest winds had already passed and were not expected to intensify further during the morning.
Snowfall is expected on Mount Hermon and in the northern Golan Heights. Authorities warned of a high risk of flash floods in the Judean Desert and Dead Sea region, as well as local flooding in mountainous areas and along the coastal plain. Temperatures are set to drop nationwide, and haze is possible in the south. Rain and winds are expected to gradually weaken by evening, with cloudy conditions and intermittent rain continuing overnight. Gusty winds are forecast to persist along the coast.
During the night, police said Highway 90 was closed to traffic between the Ein Gedi junction and the Dead Sea hotel area due to flooding and serious safety concerns.
Forecast temperatures for Tuesday and overnight, in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit, were: Jerusalem 4–9°C (39–48°F), Tel Aviv 12–18°C (54–64°F), Haifa 10–15°C (50–59°F), Safed 2–9°C (36–48°F), Katzrin 7–12°C (45–54°F), Tiberias 9–14°C (48–57°F), Nazareth 8–13°C (46–55°F), Afula 8–15°C (46–59°F), Beit Shean 10–17°C (50–63°F), Lod 10–15°C (50–59°F), Ashdod 10–16°C (50–61°F), Ein Gedi 13–18°C (55–64°F), Beersheba 8–13°C (46–55°F), Mitzpe Ramon 6–12°C (43–54°F) and Eilat 13–19°C (55–66°F).
On Wednesday, skies are expected to be partly to mostly cloudy, with light, local rain mainly in central areas and the northern Negev, along with a slight rise in temperatures. Light rain may continue Thursday, primarily along the central and southern coastal plain, with additional mild warming. No significant change is forecast for Friday.
The storm caused extensive damage in several cities. In Rishon Lezion, a wall at a historic winery collapsed onto parked cars late Monday, causing heavy damage but no injuries. In Nahariya, strong winds shattered restaurant windows and tore off part of a roof. Trees fell in multiple locations, including Acre, where one tree landed on a parked car and a business sign was ripped from its mount. A large street sign was blown over at the northern entrance to Or Akiva, and a fallen tree blocked an entrance to Pardes Hanna.
In Rishon Lezion, a wall at a historic winery collapsed onto parked cars
(Video: Meir Turgeman)
Several minor injuries were reported. A 47-year-old woman was lightly hurt by a sign blown by the wind near a commercial area in Glilot. In Rishon Lezion, a 70-year-old woman was injured by a large branch that fell on Hagalim Street. A 28-year-old man was lightly injured when a tree fell on Mivtza Ein Street in Ramat Gan.
Israel Meteorological Service Director Dr. Amit Givati warned the public to take precautions, saying the winds were unusually strong by local standards.
“We’re not telling people to stay home, but they must watch out for flying objects,” Givati said. “That means staying out of the sea, not at night and not during the day, until the winds ease. We’ve seen dozens, if not hundreds, of incidents of fallen trees and damage.”
Speaking earlier at the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee, Givati described the storm as “an extreme 24-hour event,” noting similarities to powerful winds last Friday that led to the death of a kitesurfer off the coast of Bat Yam.
Emergency services urged the public to avoid nonessential travel during peak storm hours, not to cross flooded areas and to follow official instructions as conditions evolve. Police in the northern district said they had increased deployments and were preparing for possible snow accumulation in the northern Golan Heights.