Heavy rains, strong winds wreak havoc as storm blows through
Flooding reported around country, three boys rescued from mud pit, wall collapses on cars in Herzliya in season’s first major tempest
A heavy winter storm rolled through Israel Wednesday, dumping over 100 millimeters of water in some places and causing injuries, flooding, power outages and property damage nationwide.
In Bat Yam, a 60-year-old man was killed after slipping into the street and being hit by a bus, Israeli site Walla reported.
In the central Israeli city of Hod Hasharon, three young brothers were rescued by a police officer after being stranded in a massive mud pool. The three sustained minor injuries and were treated by MDA paramedics, Channel 10 reported.
The storm brought high gusting winds and heavy rainfall starting Tuesday night.
The wind will likely die down on Thursday, but cool temperatures and rain will likely persist before tapering off on Friday.
While providing the country’s water reserves with a much-needed boost, the stormy weather also caused damage in several cities.
In the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya, a wall collapsed on eight parked cars, Walla reported. Four rescue teams arrived at the scene, though only property damage was sustained.
Near Beit Shemesh, outside Jerusalem, firefighters evacuated passengers of an SUV swept up by a flood. The passengers, waiting on the banks of the water, were unharmed, according to Channel 10.
In Jerusalem, a power line pole collapsed after a car crashed into it, though no injuries were reported. Major traffic built up at the scene, as rescue teams worked to remove the car and the pole, Walla reported.
In Haifa, two docks were closed off to traffic in the port due to the stormy weather.
The rain raised the Sea of Galilee’s levels by 3.5 centimeters (1.37 inches), marking the highest one-day rise of the season so far for the northern lake, one of Israel’s key water sources.
However, the center of the country received the highest concentration of rain, with Petah Tikva seeing the most at 123 millimeters (4.8 inches). Jerusalem received 65 millimeters (2.5 inches), Tel Aviv 27 millimeters (1 inch) and Ashkelon 114 millimeters (4.5 inches).
Occasional rain and isolated thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout Wednesday and into Thursday, bringing strong winds, unseasonably cool temperatures, possible flooding and snow on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, according to the Israel Meteorological Service.
Winter rains are vital for Israel’s water reserves, and this winter is off to a good start.
As of Wednesday, the Tel Aviv region had already received over 40 percent of its annual average and Jerusalem 23%. The area around the Sea of Galilee has seen one-fifth of its yearly total. The totals are well ahead of the average rainfall for this point in the year.
Tel Aviv has seen more than double the average precipitation for this point in the year, while Haifa has received 139%. Jerusalem is also enjoying a wet winter, and stands at 226% of the average so far.
