Israel Experiences Unprecedented Early November Cold Snap

Israel is currently experiencing an unusually severe cold spell, with the Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) reporting record-low temperatures for the first half of November. In some areas, temperatures dropped to lows not seen in decades, with inland valleys and frost-sensitive regions reaching 4 to 6 degrees Celsius overnight. Specifically, plains east of Shlomi and Acre saw temperatures plummet to 4 degrees Celsius, while parts of the Sharon, Shfela, and Negev plains recorded 5 to 6 degrees. The northern Golan Heights experienced even colder conditions, with minimum temperatures between 1.5 and 4 degrees Celsius.

According to IMS data, the recorded temperatures are 6 to 8 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average, making them exceptionally rare for early November. In areas like the Shfela, Jezreel Valley, and plains east of Acre, such low temperatures in the first half of the month have not been recorded since 1995. The central coastal plain has not seen such lows since 2005, and eastern valleys and the Negev since 2011. While November can bring cold, this early dip is unusual, especially in recent decades marked by a warming trend.

The extreme cold is attributed to the trailing edge of an upper-air trough that passed over the region on Saturday. This system left behind cold, dry air at low altitudes that did not travel over significant bodies of water, thus failing to warm up. High levels of dryness and clear skies further contributed to the dramatic temperature drop throughout the long nighttime hours in valleys and plains.