Rain Expected Mid-Week as Thousands Visit Nature Sites

Approximately 70,000 visitors took advantage of pleasant weather to explore Israel Nature and Parks Authority sites during the Sukkot holiday. The favorable conditions are expected to continue for the first two days of Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of the holiday).

However, local rains are forecast to begin Monday evening and intensify on Tuesday and Wednesday, primarily in the north and potentially extending to central Israel. The precipitation could be heavy, especially on Wednesday, which will also see a significant drop in temperatures. This cooler weather is expected to persist into the second part of the holiday, with temperatures in mountainous areas and Jerusalem reaching only 23 degrees Celsius, the lowest since spring.

The Israel Meteorological Service updated its forecast, indicating a possibility of renewed and potentially substantial rainfall during the latter part of the holiday, though they caution that this prediction is distant and subject to change.

Many Israelis used the beginning of Sukkot to visit national parks and nature reserves, enjoying early autumn signs like blooming cyclamen and sea daffodils, as well as the ongoing large-scale bird migration. Popular destinations included the Ein Afek, Caesarea, and Tel Dor National Parks, and the Ein Gedi and Banias Nature Reserves. Additionally, around 3,700 people opted to spend the eve of Sukkot in the authority's overnight camping sites.