Israel Records Hottest Day of Year at 44.7°C Amid Ongoing Heatwave

On Monday, Israel experienced its hottest day of the year with temperatures reaching 44.7 degrees Celsius, the highest since last August's heatwave. The peak temperature was recorded at the Sedom station near the Dead Sea, where readings surpassed 40 degrees Celsius across southern regions including the Arava and Eilat. The previous day's record of 44.3 degrees at the same station was quickly surpassed.

Coastal areas such as Ashkelon, Nahariya, and Tel Aviv saw humidity levels around 74-75%, with temperatures near 30 degrees Celsius. This combination led to intense heat stress along the coast and the Shfela region. The Meteorological Service forecasts a slight temperature drop over the next two days, but heat levels are expected to rise again on Wednesday, with increased heat stress nationwide, especially in the coastal strip.

Thursday will bring above-average heat and high humidity along the coast, continuing the trend of significant heat burdens. Long-term forecasts indicate that the second half of July will remain hotter than usual, with some days experiencing extreme heat. The comfortable weather of June is now a distant memory as the country faces a prolonged period of intense heat.

Temperature ranges for Monday and Tuesday include Jerusalem at 22-32°C, Tel Aviv 23-31°C, Haifa 23-31°C, Safed 23-33°C, Katzrin 22-38°C, Tiberias 24-37°C, Nazareth 23-36°C, Afula 21-36°C, Beit She'an 25-40°C, Lod 22-33°C, Ashdod 23-32°C, Ein Gedi 29-40°C, Beersheba 22-36°C, Mitzpe Ramon 24-35°C, and Eilat 31-42°C.