Unseasonal Late August Storms Bring Rain, Flooding, and Hail to Northern Israel

An unusual weather system is bringing early seasonal rain to Israel, starting Friday with a slight temperature drop in the mountains and inland areas. After morning cloud dispersal, the weather will clear with relief from the summer heat, but flooding risks remain along the coastal plain. On Saturday, partly cloudy skies will persist with little temperature change, though local rain is expected in the north by midday. Winds will strengthen, and overnight rain will spread to central Israel, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail risks in the northern coastal and Sharon regions. Flooding concerns continue for the coastal plain.

Rainfall will extend into Sunday from northern Israel down to the northern Negev, with a significant temperature drop to below seasonal averages. Rain should cease by midday Sunday, but light drizzle may return Monday morning alongside a slight temperature rise, though still below average. Temperature forecasts for Friday and Saturday include Jerusalem at 23-33°C, Tel Aviv 25-32°C, Haifa 24-31°C, and Eilat 31-43°C.

Dr. Amir Givati, head of the Meteorological Service, highlighted that the early heavy rains, usually arriving in October or later, require authorities to accelerate preparations. Early rains can cause drainage issues due to accumulated dust and leaves from summer. The Yarkon Drainage Authority, led by CEO Arik Leibovitz, is conducting engineering work to clear riverbeds and blockages. However, urban drainage systems typically handle only 25-30 mm of rain per hour, and the forecasted 30 mm in the coastal plain approaches this limit, raising flooding risks if the rain falls rapidly.