Israel Braces for Unusually Wet Autumn After Heatwave

Israel is expected to experience another day of heavy heat on Tuesday, with temperatures rising slightly across the country, particularly in mountainous and inland areas. Heat levels will be severe to extreme in most regions. The Israeli Meteorological Service (IMS) is looking ahead, however, to an unusually wet autumn and winter. Long-range models predict that October, November, and December could all see above-average rainfall for Israel and the wider Middle East.

October is forecast to be particularly wet, potentially doubling the average rainfall for the month. The IMS warns that this could lead to a high probability of flash floods in coastal cities and wadis in the south and east of the country, similar to patterns seen in the strong El Niño autumn of 2015, though current models suggest higher rainfall amounts for the upcoming season.

In anticipation of the potential for severe weather, the IMS held a virtual preparedness meeting with government ministries, emergency services, and national security officials. The meeting focused on the wet season forecast, especially for its initial months, and introduced new forecasting and warning tools designed to help manage floods and snow. They also discussed potential scenarios and improving inter-agency coordination during life-threatening events.

Looking at the immediate weather, temperatures will drop slightly on Wednesday, remaining a bit higher than average. A further slight decrease is expected on Thursday, bringing temperatures back to seasonal averages for most areas and easing the heat. Friday will see another drop in temperatures. Current temperatures range from highs of 32-41°C (90-106°F) and lows of 19-28°C (66-82°F) across various cities.