Rare Intense Storm Hits Israel, Causing Widespread Flooding
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
An exceptionally intense storm hit Israel on Saturday, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and traffic disruptions. The Israel Meteorological Service reported record rainfall rates in Kadima, with 100 millimeters falling in one hour, the second-highest hourly total ever recorded in the country. The extreme weather follows recent heavy flash floods and underscores the intensity of current transitional season events.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel experienced an exceptionally severe storm on Saturday with rare intensity.
- Kadima recorded 117 millimeters of rain in 1 hour and 15 minutes, with 100 mm in one hour.
- The 100 mm/hour rainfall in Kadima is the second-highest hourly rate ever recorded in Israel.
- The storm caused widespread flooding, power outages, and severe traffic disruptions.
- The event highlights the intensity of extreme weather during the current transitional season.
Israel experienced an exceptionally severe weather event on Saturday, characterized by rare intensity, according to meteorologists. The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) released a special report detailing the extreme rainfall system that led to extensive flooding, power outages, and severe traffic disruptions across many parts of the country.
The highest rainfall rate was recorded in Kadima, in the Sharon region, where 117 millimeters of rain fell in just one hour and fifteen minutes, with approximately 100 millimeters falling within a single hour. This is a rare measurement for the area and the second-highest hourly rainfall ever recorded in Israel, surpassed only by an event in Ma'agan Michael in November 2024.
Nearby areas also saw significant rainfall. Even Yehuda received about 70 millimeters in an hour, and Binyamina recorded around 50 millimeters in a similar timeframe. The rainfall began early Saturday morning in the Gush Dan, Shfela, and southern coastal plain regions. Ashdod recorded about 90 millimeters, mostly within a few hours, causing severe water-related disruptions.
By Saturday afternoon, the storm's center moved north towards the central and Sharon regions. The massive amounts of water caused significant flooding in Kadima-Tzoran, Even Yehuda, and Qalansa, accompanied by prolonged power outages and severe impacts on daily life. The IMS noted that this unusual event follows heavy flash floods in eastern Israel on election day, highlighting the intensity of extreme weather events characteristic of the current transitional season.
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