Heat Stress Expected on Yom Kippur After Unusual September Rains

Following an unusual third rainfall event in September, Israel is set to experience a return to seasonal temperatures on Sunday evening, ahead of Yom Kippur. The holiday itself will be hot and dry inland, with coastal and Shephelah regions reaching 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) with 65% humidity, leading to heavy heat stress. Temperatures are expected to moderate slightly later in the week, in time for the Sukkot holiday.

The recent rainfall, occurring on Friday, was the third such event this September. Northern Israel saw significant precipitation, exceeding the average monthly rainfall of 3-5 millimeters. Metula recorded the highest amount with 24.5 mm, followed by Matat and Shomra with 19 mm, and Neve Ativ near the Hermon with 18 mm. Southern areas experienced more localized rain, including Ali in Samaria with 8 mm, Nitzanim on the southern coast with 5 mm, and Tel Aviv with 2 mm. Jerusalem received less than a millimeter of rain.

Temperatures over the weekend were below average, particularly in the mountains, creating a distinctly autumnal atmosphere. This pattern contrasts with the upcoming Yom Kippur forecast, which predicts a return to warmer, drier conditions.