Israel Prepares for First Heavy Autumn Storm Bringing Flood Risks
Israel prepares for its first major autumn storm bringing up to 120mm of rain, threatening coastal flooding and flash floods in the Judean Desert this weekend.
Israel is bracing for its first major autumn rainstorm, bringing heavy downpours of up to 120 millimeters, strong winds, and a high risk of urban flooding along the coastal plain. According to Meteo-Tech forecaster Lior Sudri, the system originating from the Balkans is expected to intensify sharply by Friday and peak on Saturday.
"We are expecting exceptionally high precipitation amounts, between 70 and 120 millimeters on Saturday," Sudri explained, adding that heavy rains will also reach Jerusalem and the northern Negev, raising concerns over potential flash floods in the Judean Desert streams. However, the bulk of the precipitation will concentrate along the coastal strip from Nahariya to Ashkelon, threatening low-lying urban areas in the Gush Dan and Shfela regions.
Despite the intense rainfall and a noticeable drop in temperatures, meteorologists note that this is a classic autumn system rather than a deep winter storm. Warm sea temperatures averaging 26 degrees Celsius are interacting with incoming cold air masses to generate severe storm clouds. No snow is currently expected on Mount Hermon, as temperatures remain too high for high-altitude snowfall.
This first major precipitation event arrives while Lake Kinneret sits at critically low levels, standing 0.71 meters below the lower red line and 4.91 meters away from maximum capacity. Forecasters predict that rain will taper off gradually by Sunday, leaving temperatures slightly below seasonal averages heading into early next week.
