A rare midsummer storm shattered the Jerusalem area’s all-time August rainfall record Saturday, with 11 millimeters of rain falling in just one hour at the Israel Meteorological Service’s Ma’ale Adumim station.
The service said the figure was the highest recorded for the month of August since measurements began. Heavy rain continued to fall in the Jerusalem Hills after the record was broken.
Rare summer storm breaks Jerusalem’s all-time August rainfall record in one hour
Rain began falling in northern Israel at around 3 p.m. and reached Jerusalem and the surrounding area minutes later. The downpour around the capital was particularly intense, with Meteorological Service radar showing a strong storm cell directly over Jerusalem.
Videos from the city and nearby areas showed heavy rainfall in the middle of summer, an unusual sight for August.
Shortly before the storm intensified, the Meteorological Service issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and lightning expected over the northern mountains and valleys, the central highlands, Jordan Valley, Judean Desert and Dead Sea region, northeastern Negev and northern Arava.
Alongside the thunderstorms, authorities warned that there was still a risk of flash floods in the Judean Desert and Dead Sea area.
At Achziv Beach in the Western Galilee, authorities announced a complete ban on swimming because of rough sea conditions, which they said posed “a real danger to bathers.”
A series of safety warnings was also issued ahead of the rainfall. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority stressed that entering flowing stream channels, either on foot or by vehicle, is strictly prohibited until water levels have completely subsided.
Officials also warned people not to approach riverbanks during a flash flood because of the risk that the banks could collapse.
“If you want to watch a flood, do so from a high and safe place, and do not enter stream channels or the path of flowing water,” the Arava rescue unit said.
Temperatures on Sunday are expected to remain similar, with rain forecast in eastern Israel beginning around midday.
A further drop in temperatures is expected Monday, leaving conditions slightly cooler than average in the mountains and inland areas and bringing some relief from the heat. Light drizzle may also develop along the coast during the morning.
Tuesday is expected to be partly cloudy to mostly clear, with little change in temperatures and a chance of morning drizzle along the coast.