Mid-August: Light rain begins, warnings issued, and beach closed due to "danger to life"
Rain began falling in Jerusalem and the north this afternoon; there is a continued risk of flash floods in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. Swimming at Achziv Beach is prohibited due to dangerous sea conditions.
Rain in mid-August: Light rains began today, Saturday, around 15:00 in the northern Golan Heights, the Hula Valley, the Ma'ale Adumim area, and parts of Jerusalem. Shortly before, the Meteorological Service issued a "yellow warning" for thunderstorms and lightning expected in the coming hours across the northern and central mountains, the northern valleys, the Jordan Valley, the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, the northeastern Negev, and the northern Arava.
Along with the thunderstorms, there is a persistent risk of flash floods in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. Simultaneously, at Achziv Beach (Mosh's Beach) in the Western Galilee, a total ban on swimming was announced due to difficult sea conditions, "which pose a real danger to life for bathers."
Ahead of the rains, a series of warnings were issued. The Nature and Parks Authority emphasized that it is strictly forbidden to enter riverbeds with flowing water on foot or by vehicle until the water level drops completely, and clarified that one must not approach the edge of a stream during a flood due to the risk of the bank collapsing.
"If you are interested in watching a flood, you should do so from a high and safe place, and not enter the riverbeds or the flow path of the stream," said the Arava rescue unit.
Visitor statistics and the Perseid meteor shower
Throughout Saturday, about 40,000 travelers visited nature reserves and national parks across the country. The Nature and Parks Authority reported that the leading sites were Hurshat Tal, Achziv Beach, Gan HaShlosha (Sachne), Caesarea, the Dor-HaBonim Beach Reserve, and the Coral Reserve in Eilat. About 8,500 travelers stayed overnight over the weekend at the Authority's campgrounds.
It was further reported that over the past week, about 60,000 visitors in total arrived to watch the Perseid meteor shower in the south of the country, half of whom visited the Ramon Crater area.
Tomorrow, temperatures will remain similar, with rain expected in the east of the country starting in the afternoon. On Monday, a further drop in temperatures is expected, with levels slightly below average in the mountains and inland. Relief from heat loads will be felt, and morning drizzles are possible along the coast. Tuesday will be partly cloudy to clear with no significant change in temperatures.
