Freeze closes roads, damages water infrastructure

Hundreds of residents of northern Israel were without water Saturday, as freezing temperatures damaged water pipes. The cold also meant dangerous road conditions throughout the country, causing numerous road closures.

Temperatures reached as low as -9 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday night in some parts of the north, causing pipes to freeze over and burst in communities in the Golan Heights, Galilee and Hula Valley. Water companies dispatched technicians to fix the problems.

After a period of closures, the roads leading in and out of Jerusalem were briefly opened to traffic on Saturday morning, only to be closed again by police, as heavy precipitation caused conditions to deteriorate. The closure of Highway 1, the road connecting the capital to Tel Aviv, caused major disruptions, stranding motorists in bumper-to-bumper traffic. By evening, the road was again open.

In addition to numerous highway closures in an around Jerusalem, authorities also closed off the Ze’elim Bridge 234 and Ein Bokek 90 in the south and Route 367, a checkpoint road leading into the West Bank, earlier Saturday.

Police deployed all over the country to assist motorists, urging drivers to use extreme caution and to utilize the country’s emergency hotline number, 100, in times of crisis.

Although the cold weather has proved troublesome for some, locals as well as many curious Israelis around the country traveled north in an effort to frolic in the snow. Although Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest peak and popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, was closed to visitors, many took snowboards, skis and makeshift sleds to nearby slopes.

“We can not wait any longer,” said one winter aficionado speaking with Ynet on Saturday. “In a few days the temperature will rise and the snow melt. It’s time to sled.”

Michael Palchanko, a resident of the northern city of Acre, came to the Golan with his a 5-year-old daughter, providing her the opportunity to see snow for the first time.

“We left around 8:00 a.m. and the roads were open,” he said. “It was a beautiful ride in with stunning views. The experience is great,” he added. “The children enjoy it and that’s what matters.”