Rare Summer Storm Brings Unprecedented Rain to Central Israel

Following a disappointing weekend with less rainfall than anticipated, rain finally arrived in central Israel and along the coastal plain overnight between Sunday and Monday. The Meteorological Service reported that Ramat Hachayal in Tel Aviv received 7.9 mm of rain in the past 12 hours, with Jaffa recording 1.8 mm and southern Tel Aviv 0.4 mm. This amount is a record for August in Tel Aviv in recent decades, surpassing the 9 mm recorded in Haifa in August 2023. Ramat Gan saw 3.5 mm, Har Bracha in the Samaria region recorded 5 mm, and Itamar received 0.6 mm. Lighter rainfall was also noted in northern Israel, with 0.4 mm in Menara and 0.2 mm in Cherish, while Gvaram on the Ashkelon coast received 0.5 mm. Rain was also documented in the Shephelah region, including Rishon LeZion.

Temperatures are expected to rise slightly on Monday but will remain typical for the season. Light drizzle may persist along the coast in the morning, with partly cloudy skies throughout the day. The Meteorological Service explained that the rare storm system's path shifted slightly northwards as it approached, causing the most developed storm clouds to form north of Israel, over the Gulf of Iskenderun, western Syria, and northern Lebanon. These areas experienced dozens of millimeters of rain, thunderstorms, and heavy hail, leading to flash floods. In contrast, southern Lebanon and Israel received rain from thinner clouds, characteristic of summer rain events.

Despite the disappointing rainfall amounts in Israel compared to forecasts, the rare low-pressure system significantly impacted wind speeds. Strong gusts, unusual for summer, reached up to 70 km/h in various locations, with a record 72 km/h recorded on Mount Gilboa. Sodom experienced its highest August wind gust in 25 years at 68 km/h. The sea also became rough, with significant wave heights reaching about 2 meters and maximum waves exceeding 3 meters, a phenomenon not seen in August since 2011. The system also created unusual temperature variations, with hot winds causing temperatures to soar in places like Sodom (44.8°C, the highest August temperature there in the current year) and Hatzva (43.7°C), while western winds prevented significant cooling in many areas. Conversely, mountainous regions experienced cooler temperatures, with the Hermon station recording its lowest August temperature in 20 years at just 8°C.