Temperatures soar as Israel hit with ‘extreme’ heat wave

A punishing heat wave wracking Israel was set to peak on Sunday, with temperatures projected to rise above 40°C (104°F) in some areas.

The heat wave, the third of its kind in under a month, was expected to bring temperatures up to 37°C (99°F) in Jerusalem and 35°C (95ºF) in Tel Aviv.

Forecasters at Israel’s Meteorological Service said most regions nationwide would experience “very high to extreme heat stress,” coupled with high levels of humidity, making temperatures feel even hotter than reported.

In the southern resort city of Eilat, vacationers were expected to brave a sweltering 46ºC (115ºF), while cities and towns in the Jordan Valley will endure a combination of high humidity and blazing heat, with temperatures up to 48ºC (118ºF).

In Tiberias, temperatures are expected to climb to 45°C (113ºF). But with 35 percent humidity in the afternoon hours, it will feel more like 58° (136ºF), forecasters said. Meanwhile, at the Dead Sea, the 44ºC weather (111º F) will feel more like 48°C (119ºF) when factoring in humidity.

Tel Aviv’s relatively benign 35°C (95ºF) will feel more like 45°C (113ºF), given a whopping 60% humidity rate, the weather service said.

Elsewhere in Israel, temperatures were predicted to climb to 42ºC (108º F) in Beersheba, 39ºC (102º F) on the Golan Heights and 35ºC (95º F) in Haifa.

The Health Ministry has urged the public, in particular the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases, to avoid exposure to the sun and heat as much as possible, avoid physical exercise, and drink plenty of water.

Monday is expected to see a “slight drop in temperatures,” the weather service said, but warned that “there will still be very high heat stress and unseasonably high temperatures.” The weather will begin to drop on Tuesday, although it will also remain “unseasonably warm.”

The Meteorological Service also warned of the possibility of brush fires breaking out due to the high temperatures.

The heat wave comes after searing temperatures earlier this month led to two deaths.

A one-year-old baby died after she was hospitalized for heatstroke. Her father was also hospitalized with heatstroke and dehydration after the family hiked in the northern Hula Valley two weeks ago.

Also two weeks ago, 18-year-old IDF soldier Dan Sela died of heatstroke after collapsing in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.