Unprecedented Heavy Rainstorm Expected in Central Israel This Weekend

The Israeli Meteorological Service has issued a warning about an extraordinary and unprecedented rain event expected to hit central Israel at the end of this weekend. The storm system, bringing heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and hail, is forecast to begin on Saturday night and peak in the early hours of Sunday. This event is historic for August, a month typically dry in Israel, with rainfall volumes and intensity far exceeding normal summer patterns.

The storm will primarily affect the coastal plain from northern Israel through the Sharon region to the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the Shephelah. Meteorologists predict that within a short period of one to three hours, between 20 and 30 millimeters of rain could fall along the coast. This intense downpour raises serious concerns about widespread urban flooding, especially in the Dan region and Shephelah, where drainage systems are not designed to handle such heavy summer rains.

The weather will start changing on Saturday with partly cloudy skies and light rain or drizzle in northern and coastal areas. Overnight, the rain will spread and intensify, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms. On Sunday morning, rain showers will continue with a notable drop in temperatures, providing relief from the summer heat, especially in mountainous and inland areas.

This event is exceptional not only due to its intensity but also because it follows another significant rain event earlier in August, a rarity in Israeli meteorological records. Historically, August has never recorded two separate rain events exceeding 10 millimeters each. The upcoming storm could even surpass the all-time August single-event rainfall record of 33 millimeters set in 1971 in Kfar Galim. The broad geographic spread of the rain is also unusual, affecting much of the country from north to the northern Negev.

Authorities emphasize the unprecedented nature of this forecast and the potential for urban flooding in coastal areas during a month when such events have never been recorded before. Residents are advised to prepare for severe weather and possible disruptions due to flooding and storm conditions.