With rains expected, park officials close Masada, warn of flash floods

15 November 2018, 3:17 pm

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Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority warns hikers that rains are expected in mountainous parts of the country in the next few days, leading to possible flash floods in desert riverbeds throughout the country’s south and in the Jordan Valley.

The Masada National Park has been closed to visitors, as has the Arugot stream in the southeastern edge of the West Bank, both popular destinations for hikers and tourists.

The warnings come after some rain had already fallen on the Judean desert and northern Negev areas earlier today. More rain is expected on Friday.

Ten young Israelis were killed on April 29, 2018, in a flash flood in the Tzafit stream in the northern Negev, east of Dimona, amid heavy rains.