El Niño Expected to Bring Stormy Winter to Israel

Global climate patterns indicate a potentially stormy and wet winter for Israel in 2026-2027, driven by the El Niño phenomenon. Leading meteorological models from the US, Europe, and Canada suggest El Niño will alter major air currents, intensifying storms in the Middle East and leading to above-average rainfall in October, November, and December.

In preparation, the Israel Meteorological Service has released its official list of storm names for the upcoming season. This practice, part of a regional cooperation initiative with Greece and Cyprus called the "Eastern Mediterranean Group" established in 2021, aims to assign names to significant weather systems.

The list features 25 names, with eight of Israeli origin. The first Israeli-named storm is "Bar," designated as the second system of the season and potentially arriving before the end of 2026. "Eitan" is the fifth system, and "Hadar" is the eighth.

This year's naming convention has expanded beyond traditional Hebrew names to reflect Israel's diverse population. Alongside names like "Kedem," "Tamar," and "Zohar," "Nadia" and "Wassim" have been included. However, "Wassim," placed 22nd on the list, is unlikely to be used, as typically fewer than ten named storms occur per season.

Following a less eventful winter in 2025-2026 with minimal extreme rainfall, forecasters now anticipate El Niño could significantly increase precipitation levels in the region.