Snow blankets Mt. Hermon as Israel braces for stormy weekend
Country’s only ski resort closed to visitors; heavy rainstorms expected in north and center
Heavy snow blanketed Mt. Hermon on Friday morning, as the short break of warm weather enjoyed by Israelis this week ended Thursday evening, giving way to cold, wintry temperatures across the country.
The site, the country’s only ski resort, was closed to visitors due to the storm.
Meteorologists said temperatures would drop sharply by Friday morning, with rainstorms expected in northern and central Israel.
On Saturday evening, temperatures could drop as low at 4° Celsius in Jerusalem, 10°C in Tel Aviv, 8°C in Haifa, 6°C in Beersheba and a freezing, snowy -8°C at Mt. Hermon.
The rain is expected to taper off by Saturday afternoon, and temperatures are expected to rise on Sunday for the rest of the week.
Last week, roads were closed in northern and southern parts of Israel, as snow fell in the former and flash floods hit the latter during a heavy winter storm felt across the country. Parts of the Golan saw heavy snowfall by Saturday morning, with some 45 centimeters hitting the lower parts of Mount Hermon and 60 cm on its upper slopes last Saturday evening.