Rare summer rains shower Jerusalem area, Golan Heights; flash flood warnings issued in Judean Desert, northern Negev

Residents of the Jerusalem area, the Judean Desert and the Golan Heights are experiencing rainfall, a rare phenomenon for late summer in Israel.

According to Channel 13, around 11 millimeters of rain fell in Jerusalem in just one hour, which it says is a record for August, with more expected to fall until the evening.

באמצע הקיץ: שיא גשם לחודש אוגוסט נשבר באזור ירושלים ומדבר יהודהhttps://t.co/YpilvWgcIm@EladZoharCH2 pic.twitter.com/YZCmN2LXVZ

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) August 15, 2026

Footage posted to social media shows powerful rain falling in the capital, periodically drowning out the weekly ultra-Orthodox protests outside Cafe Basimta, where demonstrators gather to protest for the seventh week in a row against it being open on Shabbat.

בזמן הגשם השוטף: עשרות מפגינים חרדים ליד קפה בסמטה@VeredPelman pic.twitter.com/rrQGJdQQCr

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 15, 2026

In the Golan Heights, heavy rain also falls, with showers expected to continue into the evening.

The Israel Meteorological Service issues a warning for flash floods in the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea area and the northern Negev.