Israel Faces Unprecedented August Rainstorm With Flood Risks in Coastal Plain

After a prolonged period of hot summer weather, Israel is expected to experience a rare and significant rain event starting Saturday night into early Sunday morning. The Meteorological Service forecasts widespread rainfall primarily along the coastal plain, from the northern coast through Sharon, the Gush Dan area, and the Shephelah region. The peak of the storm is anticipated in the early hours of Sunday, with 20 to 30 millimeters of rain falling within one to three hours, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and possibly hail. Due to the intensity and short duration of the rainfall, there is a substantial risk of urban flooding and disruptions, especially in Gush Dan and the Shephelah.

On Saturday, partly cloudy skies are expected with light local rain or drizzle possible in the north and along the coast during the morning. By night, rain will spread from northern Israel to the northern Negev, with isolated thunderstorms in the north. Sunday will see partly cloudy skies with lingering local rain in the morning and a notable drop in temperatures, particularly in the mountains and inland areas, easing the heatwave. Temperatures will remain above seasonal averages until Friday, when a slight cooling is expected.

This event is historically unusual not only because of the rain volume but also because it follows another significant rainfall earlier this month. August has never before recorded two separate rain events exceeding 10 millimeters. If the current forecast holds, it will mark an unprecedented occurrence in Israel's meteorological records. Dr. Amir Givati, head of the Meteorological Service, emphasized, "Such an event has never happened in August." Earlier this month, heavy rains brought 21 millimeters in one hour near Jerusalem, accumulating to about 25 millimeters, an exceptional amount for August.

The current event might also break the historical single-event August rainfall record of 33 millimeters measured in Kfar Galim on August 3, 1971. Unlike typical localized summer showers, this storm is expected to cover a broad geographic area from the north through the coastal plain and central regions down to the northern Negev, a distribution unprecedented for late August. The Meteorological Service has issued warnings about potential flooding in coastal areas, a phenomenon not previously recorded in August. Rapid rainfall accumulation could overwhelm urban drainage systems, causing flooding in streets, underpasses, and low-lying areas.

Forecasted temperatures for the night and following day include Jerusalem (21-33°C), Tel Aviv (25-32°C), Haifa (24-31°C), Safed (22-35°C), Katzrin (22-38°C), Tiberias (24-38°C), Nazareth (23-36°C), Afula (23-36°C), Beit She'an (27-41°C), Lod (24-33°C), Ashdod (24-32°C), Ein Gedi (29-40°C), Beersheba (22-36°C), Mitzpe Ramon (24-36°C), and Eilat (29-43°C).