School called off in the north as snow persists

School was called off in the northern Upper Galilee and Golan regions Sunday morning, as snow continued to fall.

Many roads in the area were closed due to the weather, including route 90 to Habashan junction, Route 87 to Metula, Route 98 from Ramat Magshimim to Majdal Shams, Route 989, and Route 99 from the Sa’ar waterfall to Masada.

Meanwhile, flooding led to road closures in the south of the country as well, including sections of the north-south highway Route 90, near the Dead Sea.

The rain and snow were expected to abate later Sunday after several consecutive days of inclement weather.

On Saturday, hundreds of residents of northern Israel were left without water, as freezing temperatures damaged water pipes. The cold also meant dangerous road conditions throughout the country, causing numerous road closures.

Temperatures reached as low as -9 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday night in some parts of the north, causing pipes to freeze over and burst in communities in the Golan Heights, Galilee and Hula Valley. Water companies dispatched technicians to fix the problems.

The roads leading in and out of Jerusalem were closed to traffic as the snow returned to the capital on Friday evening. The closure of Highway 1, the road connecting the capital to Tel Aviv, caused major disruptions, stranding motorists in bumper-to-bumper traffic. By Saturday evening, the road was again open.

Although the cold weather has proved troublesome for some, locals as well as many curious Israelis around the country traveled north in order to frolic in the snow. Although Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest peak and popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, was closed to visitors, many took snowboards, skis and makeshift sleds to nearby slopes.

“We cannot wait any longer,” said one winter aficionado speaking with Ynet on Saturday. “In a few days the temperature will rise and the snow will melt. It’s time to sled.”

Michael Palchanko, a resident of the northern city of Acre, came to the Golan with his a 5-year-old daughter, providing her the opportunity to see snow for the first time.

“We left around 8:00 a.m. and the roads were open,” he said. “It was a beautiful ride in with stunning views. The experience is great,” he added. “The children enjoy it and that’s what matters.”