Storm alert: The rainy, stormy and snowy weather will reach its peak today (Wednesday), when this morning heavy rains will continue accompanied by thunderstorms and hail from the north to the center and strong winds will blow, with gusts up to 100 km / h and even higher. Your father and local sandstorms will occur.
In the northern mountains, it had already begun to snow during the night and pile up on the ground, following which roads 99 and 98 in the northern Golan Heights were closed to traffic. During the morning, the snow is expected to spread and reach the peaks of the central mountains for the first time this season, and Jerusalem is preparing for about 10 centimeters, which are expected to pile up according to some estimates. At noon it may even snow lightly in the Negev.
Snow in the Golan (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)
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In the afternoon the rains will gradually spread to the center of the country. In the evening, the storm will reach its peak and snow is also expected on the peaks of the central mountains, including Jerusalem. Light snow is also possible in Mitzpe Ramon, and at the same time there is a risk of flooding in the streams of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea.
Temperatures: Kiryat Shmona 8-5, Katzrin 5-2, Safed 3-0, Tiberias 12-7, Nazareth 6-3, Haifa 11-7, Tel Aviv 11-8, Jerusalem 4-0, Ashkelon 12- 8 Ein Gedi 18-14, Beer Sheva 12-6, Arad 9-3, Mitzpe Ramon 5-1, Eilat 17-9.
El Rom children enjoy the snow. Photo: Shai Yehezkel
Tomorrow it will rain occasionally from the north of the country to the northern Negev and there may be occasional thunderstorms. In the mountains it will gradually stop snowing and in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea there is still a fear of floods and winds will continue to blow. It will be particularly cold and the rain will continue to weaken gradually.
On Friday, the rains will intensify and occasionally fall from the north of the country to the northern Negev, accompanied by single thunderstorms. Once again there is a slight risk of flooding in the Dead Sea and Judean Desert streams and it will continue to be colder than usual. In the evening the rains will weaken.
On Saturday, light local rains are still expected in the north and center of the country and there will be a slight increase in temperatures, but they will still be lower than normal for the season.
Snow at the Hermon site. Photo: Hermon site
The police and fire and rescue services have completed the special preparations, in view of the fear of closing traffic lanes and unusual incidents. “In light of the system that is expected to befall us from night to Thursday, it has been decided to reinforce the manpower and appropriate tools for extinguishing and rescuing in extreme weather,” the fire and rescue services noted.
The IEC also has special preparations for the extreme weather. “We are prepared for any scenario and the goal is to provide alternative electricity with high availability, should there be power outages due to weather damage to the high voltage lines,” the company noted.
The Jerusalem Municipality has declared a high alert. The municipality opened the municipal preparation center in Givat Shaul, and from there the snow plows and salt sprinklers will emerge. At the same time, the municipal standby team will be concentrated in the compound. The municipality has prepared for an operation to evacuate major arteries if necessary, in order to allow access to vital centers, including hospitals and corona vaccine complexes.
Last night, the municipal IDF opened and the emergency centers were reinforced. “We were preparing for the next snow event for the better with increased forces. We brought about 250 levels that will keep the main arteries open and increase the salt supply, “said Mayor Moshe Leon, who called on all residents of the city to drive carefully on the roads while paying attention to road conditions.
The head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shlomo Ne’eman, announced emergency preparations. Chains were installed on the tires of the operational vehicles and logistical preparations were made for the absorption of residents who would be rescued on the roads.
In addition, traffic and rescue routes were prepared in case of closure, and it was agreed that Netivei Israel and the IDF would open the main routes. Preparations for the stormy weather were also completed in the northern region. Heavy engineering tools were prepared in the Safed municipality. .
The head of the Merom Galil Regional Council, Amit Sofer, announced that the Welfare Department has prepared the elderly who are supported for the cold wave in terms of the needs required for them. At the same time, heavy tools were prepared for leveling and scattering salt on main arteries, in view of the expectation of snow falling in several centers, including in the area of Mount Meron.
However, it has not yet been decided whether educational institutions will open today. In the morning a final decision will be made. In the northern Golan Heights, it has already been decided in light of the forecast for heavy snow that the schools will not open today.