Sandstorm interrupts air travel for second day

The unseasonably warm dust storm that hit Israel on Sunday lingered into Monday, causing high levels of air pollution and disrupting domestic air travel for a second day.

The Airport Authority announced that the Sde Dov airport near Tel Aviv would be closed except for landings, and that the airport in the Red Sea resort town of Eilat was completely shut down. Haifa’s airport also shut down Monday morning.

Arkia airlines similarly said Monday that all domestic flights were canceled until the end of the day.

Passengers were advised to confirm the times and dates of their flights with their airlines.

International flights into and out of Ben-Gurion International Airport were to continue as usual, officials said.

Skies turned a dusty hue of pink by mid-Sunday, as sandy air particles from a hot, dry North African weather system moved into the region, limiting visibility.

“High concentrations of air pollution, above air quality standards” are predicted, leading to a “public health concern… therefore we recommend that vulnerable populations, including people with heart and/or lung disease, the elderly, children and pregnant women, avoid strenuous physical activity,” Dr. Levona Cordoba of the Environmental Protection Ministry said in a statement.

Although it was expected to cool Monday, the weather conditions, which can also bring sporadic rainfall and flash floods in low-lying areas, were predicted to remain through Tuesday.