Israel Issues Severe Heat Warnings for the Next Day

The Israel Meteorological Service issued a series of heat alerts on Monday morning as the summer weather peaks across large parts of the country. The most serious warning, an orange alert, was declared for the Jordan Valley from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., with officials warning of a real risk of dehydration, heatstroke, and harm to older adults, chronically ill patients, and people receiving medical treatment without access to air conditioning.

The orange alert also includes concerns about animals, difficult outdoor working conditions, possible disruptions to electricity supply from overheated transmission lines, and delays in takeoffs and landings because of hot runways. Elsewhere, yellow alerts for heavy heat will be in force from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. in the Beit Shean Valley, the Kinneret Basin, northern and southern Judea Desert and the Dead Sea area, and the Arava, with risks of dehydration, hard conditions for outdoor workers, and temporary strain on the power grid.

A separate yellow alert was issued for the Hula Valley, where it will run from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Medical and rescue officials urged the public to stay in shaded, ventilated or air-conditioned places and drink plenty of water. If going outside is unavoidable, they said people should wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-colored clothing.

Drivers were told to stop periodically to rest, and the public was warned never to leave people or animals in closed, non-air-conditioned vehicles, even briefly. Families and neighbors were also asked to check proactively on elderly people and others at higher risk in their communities.