Israeli airline diverts flights ahead of stormy weekend
Arkia says visibility at Sde Dov airport will preclude takeoffs and landings, as authorities warn of heavy rain and strong winds
Michael Bachner is a news editor at The Times of Israel
An Israeli airline said it would divert all its flights from Tel Aviv’s Sde Dov Airport, due to stormy weather conditions and limited visibility expected to make takeoffs and landings impossible.
Arkia said all its scheduled flights would be transferred to the international Ben Gurion Airport starting 8 p.m. on Thursday because of predictions of heavy rainfall, snow and powerful gales, predicted to last into Friday.
Stormy conditions are expected throughout the country, including snow on Mount Hermon and on hilltops in Israel’s north that are at least 800 meters above sea level.
The northern Golan Regional Council discussed preparations for the storm with the IDF, police, Magen David Adom, fire and rescue services, the Israel Electric Corporation and the National Roads Company.
Preparations included deploying snow removal and winter service vehicles, placing power generators and deploying first-aid personnel in vehicles suited for snowy conditions.
The Jerusalem municipality also said it had completed preparations for the storm, issuing recommendations to residents to clear out yards and public spaces of objects that can fly in strong winds.
Mayor Nir Barkat ordered heightened attention to vulnerable populations by the city’s welfare services, while vehicles to clear roads were being prepared.
The storm is not expected, however, to be stronger than the worst storm of this year to hit Israel so far. Two weeks ago, heavy rains left Israelis stranded in floods, shut main roads and brought down dozens of trees, with over 100 millimeters falling in parts of the north.
