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. The heatwave is forecast to persist, with conditions described as heavy to extreme in most regions. Nighttime will be clear to partly cloudy, with fog possible in the northern Negev.

Temperatures are predicted to decrease slightly on Wednesday and Thursday, returning to seasonal averages in most areas by Thursday, bringing some relief from the heat. A further drop is expected on Friday.

Looking ahead to the autumn and winter, the Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) has issued an unusually strong forecast. Long-range models indicate that October, November, and December are all expected to be wetter than average for Israel and the wider Middle East. October, in particular, could see double the average rainfall, raising concerns about potential flooding in coastal cities and flash floods in southern and eastern Israel.

The IMS has already begun preparations, holding a virtual meeting with government ministries, emergency services, and national security officials. New forecasting and warning tools for floods and snow were presented, along with potential scenarios and coordination strategies for life-threatening events. The service emphasized the importance of "closing the loop" in managing severe weather events, a weakness identified in past disasters in Western countries. The IMS plans to continue strengthening its ties with relevant bodies to ensure maximum preparedness for the anticipated unusual weather conditions.