Downpours bring flooding fears to Israel, Gaza

Heavy rains across the region are sparking fears of flooding in both Israel and the Gaza Strip, as a low-pressure system moves through the area.

Readings from Israel’s meteorological service show areas near the Gaza border getting nearly 30 mm of the wet stuff over the past 24 hours, around a quarter of the average for December.

According to al-Jazeera, areas in south Gaza have experienced flooding due to the rains.

In Israel, the Nature and Parks Authority announces that several popular hiking paths are being closed due to flash flood worries.

Closures include all of Ein Gedi National Park aside from the first waterfall from the entrance, rappeling sites and hiking paths along normally dry river beds in the Judean Desert, and hiking paths along cliffs in the Arbel nature reserve near the Sea of Galilee in the north.

Nahal Bokek and the Yotvata Hai Bar nature reserve in the south are also closed due to the weather.

The rain is expected to taper off throughout the morning, giving way to dry, chilly conditions.