Rescue services urge caution as heavy rainfall causes floods in northern Israel
Woman freed from deluged car in Hadera, apparently homeless man found unconscious in Tel Aviv thought to have suffered hypothermia; Hermon sees first major snow of season
First responders urged Israelis to exercise caution after heavy rainfall overnight led to flash floods in parts of the north on Saturday morning, causing damage to infrastructure. At least one person had to be rescued from a flooded vehicle.
The center and south saw cold weather and strong winds but little rainfall. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it had evacuated a seemingly homeless man, about 30 years old, who was lying unconscious on Tel Aviv’s HaMasger Street after fainting, apparently from hypothermia.
The night also saw the first major snow in northern Israel’s Hermon Mountain, which is currently a closed military zone due to tensions in Lebanon and Syria.
In Hadera, the Fire and Rescue Service used a dinghy to reach a 51-year-old woman who was trapped in her deluged car after trying to cross a flooded intersection. The woman was transferred to Magen David Adom for care, the rescue service said.
In Tiberias, meanwhile, the municipality blocked off a street that the Walla news site described as being destroyed by a flood.
The Fire and Rescue Service warned against “crossing flooded roads, streams and water sources that could risk lives,” and urged the public to call the fire department in case of an emergency.
First responders rescue a woman from her deluged car after flash floods hit northern Israel amid heavy overnight rainfall, in Hadera, December 28, 2024. (Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson)
The Israel Meteorological Service also warned about strong winds in the country’s center. The center and south are expected to see rainfall in the coming week, possibly setting off flash floods, the service said.
Israel’s rainy season lasts roughly from December to March. In the current season, Israel has seen relatively little precipitation, and the meteorological service has warned earlier this month that Israel could be headed toward a drought in 2025. According to the service, rainfall across the country is expected to reach just 70-80% of its annual average.
