Heavy rains drenched Israel on Monday, inundating city streets, triggering flash floods in dry desert riverbeds and soaking rural areas as temperatures fell to their lowest levels of the season yet.
Downpours deluged northern Israel, the coastal plain, Jerusalem and parts of the northern Negev, and included lightning and heavy winds in some areas. In the far north, Mount Hermon saw its first significant snowfall of the season, with around 5 centimeters (2 inches) of the white stuff piling up.
Near Beersheba, a man in his 30s was swept away by fast-moving floodwaters. He was pulled from a stream unconscious and brought to paramedics who were attempting to save his life. His condition was unclear.
Authorities warned of danger of flooding near rivers, empty riverbeds and in coastal areas.
The Nature and Parks Authority closed some trails due to flooding, including parts of Masada, Ein Gedi and all the riverbeds around the Dead Sea.
Videos showed muddy waters cascading down channels in the northern Negev, flooded streets in Ashdod and a lightning strike in Tel Aviv.
שטפון היום גם בעין עבדת@WexlerSharon
צילום: יניב יצחק, תיירות ירוחם pic.twitter.com/QRALSbkwDu
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 26, 2022
מזג האוויר הסוער: ברקים בתל אביב@shani_na
צילום: מורן נחשוני pic.twitter.com/KCtjMrItZ1
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 26, 2022
Along with the rain came low seasonal temperatures. In Jerusalem, the temperature was 8-11°C (46-52 °F); in Tel Aviv , 14-17°C (57-63°F); in northern Safed, 7-9°C (44-48°F); and in Eilat in the south, 15-19°C (59-66°F).
The rain is expected to let up Monday evening and overnight.
אשדוד מוצפת: כך נראה כביש ראשי בעיר @pozailov1 pic.twitter.com/A7vXTi6WzM
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 26, 2022
Tuesday’s forecast is for partially cloudy skies and the temperature is expected to climb until the weekend.
Heavy rains caused flooding in some areas on Sunday, with the waters swallowing some vehicles in the central city of Rishon Lezion.
Tel Aviv recorded 57 millimeters (2.25 inches) of rain on Sunday, according to the Israel Meteorological Service.
Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6/month, you will:
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Today’s Daily Briefing
Passover ends with protests against the premier at Mimouna
&
Signed, Sealed, Delivered?
A fresh look at Israel’s founding moral compass