Israel Experiences Slight Temperature Drop Amid Ongoing Heatwave and Extreme Heat Warnings

Following a severe heatwave in Israel, temperatures are expected to drop slightly today, particularly in the mountainous and inland areas. Despite this decrease, the weather will remain hotter than usual in many inland regions and cooler along the coastal strip, with heavy to extreme heat stress expected across multiple areas. The Meteorological Service issued heat stress warnings of varying severity: a yellow alert from 10:00 to 19:00 covering the southern Golan Heights, eastern Upper Galilee, western Lower Galilee, Jezreel Valley, Carmel, coastal plain, Shfela, northern Samaria, northern and eastern Negev, southern Negev, and the Eilat mountains. An orange alert will be in effect from 11:00 to 22:00 for eastern Lower Galilee, Hula Valley, northern Judean Desert, Dead Sea region, and southern Arava. A red alert for extreme heat stress will apply from 11:00 to 21:00 in Beit She'an Valley, Kinneret Basin, Jordan Valley, southern Judean Desert, Dead Sea, and northern Arava.

Tomorrow, after morning clouds clear, another slight temperature drop is expected, though it will remain somewhat hot in the mountains and inland, with cooler conditions along the coast. On Wednesday, temperatures will rise again slightly, especially inland and in the mountains, with increased humidity along the coast and further intensification of heat stress.

Yesterday, several local heat records were broken: Tiberias reached 41.1°C, marking the first time this summer the city surpassed 41°C. Other high temperatures included 42.2°C in Kfar Nahum near the Sea of Galilee, 42.5°C in Hazeva, 42.3°C in Gilgal in the Jordan Valley, and the highest recorded temperature in Israel at 43.6°C in Sodom. Animals also struggled with the heat; at the Gan Goor Australian Zoo in the Valley of Springs, caretakers distributed frozen fruit popsicles to help animals cope with the intense heat.

Forecasted temperatures for major cities today are: Jerusalem 22-32°C, Tel Aviv 25-31°C, Haifa 23-31°C, Afula 21-36°C, Ashdod 23-32°C, Ashkelon 23-32°C, Beersheba 22-36°C, Mitzpe Ramon 24-35°C, and Eilat 30-42°C.