Heavy Rain Causing Havoc In Israel

Jerusalem Post

Tel Aviv – Showers across the country led to heavy traffic in central Israel on Sunday morning and the stormy weather caused injuries to at least two people.

Three fire crews were dispatched to a construction site at the Elkana settlement in the West Bank where two people were moderately injured. Lighting hit a structure, causing two Palestinian workers at the site to fall and suffer injuries. MDA paramedics transported them to Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva.

The lightning caused a fire as well, and the fire crews were attempting to gain control of the blaze.

The heavy rain, which continued throughout the night, partially flooded Ayalon Highway on Sunday morning, causing heavy traffic at the entrance to Tel Aviv. The water was cleared and the lanes were eventually opened, but the heavy traffic continued.

Safety and rescue workers in Ashdod were also working Sunday morning to help a number of people trapped by flooding.

The heavy rains caused an electrical problem in the train signal system at Nitzanim, forcing authorities to halt train travel between Ashdod and Ashkelon. Israel Railways was providing shuttles to accomodate stranded passengers. Technicians were working to rectify the malfunction.

As of just before noon on Sunday, the largest amounts of rain recorded were in the Sharon region, accumulating between 50 and 60 millimeters, and in the central coastal plain, where about 40 to 50 millimeters fell, Dr. Amos Porat, director of the Israel Meteorological Services Climate Department, told The Jerusalem Post.

The rainfall, he explained, was caused by a cold front.

“Since the sea and the low level atmosphere are still relatively warm, the passage of cold air in the upper level of the atmosphere over the warm layers result in significant rainfall and severe thunderstorms,” Porat said.

Showers from the North to the northern Negev were expected to continue throughout the day on Sunday. The Israel Meteorological Service warned of risks of flooding along the coast.

Temperatures were expected to drop, becoming unseasonably low. Isolated showers were expected to continue Monday and weaken throughout the day, tapering off in the evening.

Temperatures were forecasted to warm back up on Tuesday.
Due to the winter weather, the National Road Safety Authority reminded drivers that there are specific precautions they should be taking throughout this season, particularly during incidents of heavy rains and winds.

Winter road conditions significantly decrease visibility, due to strong winds and resultant flying objects, as well as wet roads and other hazards, the authority said. Consequently, it may be harder to detect pedestrians, and the authority advised slowing down during such conditions and yielding to foot travelers.

Drivers should reduce their speed by at least 20 kilometers per hour when it is rainy and by 30 to 40 kilometers per hour when winds are heavy, the authority recommended. It is also important to maintain greater distances between vehicles, as well as avoid sudden breaking or break pumping. Passing should be avoided on slippery roads, and headlights should be switched on, day and night, the authority added.