The temperature in Red Sea resort city Eilat has climbed to a hellish 46 degrees C (114.8 F), according to various media reports, the highest temperature recorded in the city on a May 15 since 1979.
The temperature is a good 11 degrees C (20 F) more than normal for this time of year, as other cities around Israel see similarly unseasonably high temperatures.
Fires are also being reported in several areas around Jerusalem, including between the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Shuafat and Pisgat Ze’ev in the north of the city.
Police are looking into the possibility the blaze is the result of a firebomb, Channel 2 reports.
To the west of the city, sections of Routes 44 and 375 are closed because of fires.
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