Israel Faces Peak of Severe Heatwave with Temperatures Reaching 46.5°C

A severe heatwave sweeping Israel is set to peak on Sunday, with temperatures already soaring across the country. On Saturday, many inland areas recorded temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, with the Sea of Galilee region reaching 42 to 43 degrees. The highest temperature measured was approximately 45 degrees in the Jordan Valley. Dr. Amir Givati, head of the Meteorological Service, reported that temperatures of 40 degrees and above were recorded from the northern border at Metula, through the Hula Valley, Beit She'an, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, the Arava, and down to Eilat. Jerusalem experienced a high of 36 degrees, while the Judean Lowlands reached up to 40 degrees.

Sunday is expected to bring further temperature increases, with forecasts predicting up to 45 degrees near the Sea of Galilee and between 46 and 46.5 degrees in the Jordan Valley. Despite the intense heat, around 45,000 Israelis visited nature reserves and national parks over the weekend, favoring water sites such as Tel Forest, Gan HaShlosha (Sachne), and the Hof Dor-Habonim reserve. Approximately 6,800 campers stayed overnight in national park campgrounds, with popular sites including Achziv Beach, Tel Forest, Harod Spring, and Tel Ashkelon.

The heatwave will continue into Monday with peak heat and strengthening afternoon winds. A slight temperature drop is expected on Tuesday, although conditions will remain hotter than usual for the season with ongoing heat stress. By Wednesday morning, clearer skies and further cooling will mark the end of the heatwave.

Dr. Givati warned in a recent interview that the heatwave is an extreme event, urging people to avoid outdoor activity during peak heat hours. He noted that while residents of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area might not feel the full impact, northern regions will experience very hot and dry conditions during midday.

Night and daytime temperature forecasts for Sunday include Jerusalem at 23-33°C, Tel Aviv 25-33°C, Haifa 24-33°C, Safed 24-37°C, Kiryat Shmona 23-41°C, Tiberias 25-41°C, Nazareth 25-36°C, Afula 22-38°C, Beit She'an 27-41°C, Lod 24-34°C, Ashdod 25-33°C, Ein Gedi 31-42°C, Beersheba 23-37°C, Mitzpe Ramon 25-36°C, and Eilat 31-43°C.