Heatwave Expected for Yom Kippur After Cooler Weather

Israel is bracing for a significant shift in weather as a heatwave is forecast to arrive just before the Yom Kippur holiday, following a period of unseasonably cool temperatures and rain. Friday saw a sharp drop in temperatures across the country, particularly in mountainous and inland areas, with heat levels described as light in the mountains and moderate elsewhere. Localized rain fell in the north and center in the morning, with a chance of thunderstorms early on. The rain is expected to diminish throughout the day, concentrating in the north until the evening, with potential rainfall of 10-15 mm.

Saturday will bring a further drop in temperatures, with a slight chance of drizzle in the morning. The weather will be cool in the morning and pleasant later in the day, with light heat stress in the mountains and moderate stress in other regions. The forecast indicates a warming trend leading into the holiday. While the eve of Yom Kippur will still be relatively cool, temperatures will rise on the day of the fast itself, returning to seasonal averages. By the afternoon of Yom Kippur, the weather will be relatively warm, with light heat stress in the mountains and moderate stress in most parts of the country.

Temperatures on Friday included highs of 30°C in Kiryat Shmona and 26°C in Safed, 30°C in Nahariya and Haifa, and 35°C in Tiberias. Central Israel saw highs of 31°C in Kfar Saba and 30°C in Tel Aviv, while Jerusalem experienced cooler temperatures with a high of 26°C. Southern areas like Be'er Sheva reached 33°C, with the Dead Sea at 36°C and Eilat at 38°C.