Israel's Forecasted Rains Dissipate, Leaving Only Trace Amounts

A significant weather system predicted to bring substantial rainfall to Israel over the weekend largely bypassed the country, leaving behind only minimal precipitation. Dr. Amos Porat, head of climate services at the Meteorological Service, explained that a slight northward shift in the upper-air low-pressure system diverted the main activity to Syria and Lebanon.

Between Friday evening and Saturday morning, light, localized showers were reported in northern and central Israel, with the highest recorded amount being 3.7 mm in Misgav Am. Trace amounts of rain reached as far south as Nir Yitzhak. Porat noted that while such summer rain events are not unprecedented, occurring about 20 times in the last 70 summers, the forecast had anticipated much heavier rainfall.

The unusual forecast was due to a particularly deep upper-air low for the season, bringing very cold air to the northeastern Mediterranean. This was expected to interact with warm surface air, creating conditions for severe weather in northern and central Israel. However, the system's center shifted slightly north, altering pressure maps and concentrating cloud activity over Syria and Lebanon, where dozens of millimeters of rain fell, accompanied by thunderstorms, heavy hail, and flash floods.

Despite the minimal rain in Israel, the system's fringes were felt. Wind gusts reached up to 72 km/h in places like Gilboa and 68 km/h in Sdom, setting a new August record for the automatic wind meter there. The sea also reacted, with waves reaching up to three meters. Exceptionally large temperature differences were recorded, with Sdom reaching 44.8 degrees Celsius, its highest August temperature in the current month, while the upper Hermon dropped to 8 degrees Celsius, its lowest August temperature in 20 years.