After a mild and clear Saturday with springlike conditions, temperatures are expected to rise sharply on Sunday as dry southern air flows into the region.
Saturday saw temperatures of about 20° C in the hills and around 24° C along the coast and in the lowlands. On Sunday, temperatures are forecast to reach 24–25° C in the hills, while the northern Negev, the coastal plain and the Shfela are expected to approach 30° C.
Temperatures of 29–29.5° C are forecast in Kiryat Gat, Beit Dagan and the Ben Gurion Airport area. Such readings are highly unusual for the season and for the first days of February. Temperatures nearing 30° C have not been recorded in central areas at this time of year since February 1987. Early February 2010 also saw unusually warm weather, though temperatures did not reach that level.
A change is expected Monday evening, with rain forecast in the north and central areas, continuing into Tuesday morning.
From Wednesday, winter conditions are expected to ease for an extended period. During the first third of February, temperatures are forecast to remain significantly above the seasonal average, creating a continued springlike feel.
After storms from mid-December through mid-January, winter conditions weakened toward the end of January. Long-range forecasts indicate February is expected to be drier than the long-term average.