Heavy rain triggers flooding across Israel
Baku, November 25, AZERTAC
After days of unseasonably hot weather, Israel was hit Tuesday by an intense storm that brought record-breaking rainfall, widespread flooding and dozens of emergency rescues, according to TPS-IL .
“We saw tens of thousands of lightning strikes and thunderstorms developing overnight,” said Dr. Amir Givati, director of the Israel Meteorological Service. “Conditions deteriorated rapidly, and many areas in the north and center experienced large amounts of rain, accompanied by hail and strong wind gusts.”
Meteorologists reported that 128 millimeters of rain fell within four hours in Neve Tzuf in Samaria — a new record for Israel’s central region — while Ariel registered 100 millimeters in the same period.
Heavy rain was recorded from the Galilee to the northern Negev. Karnei Shomron received 50 millimeters, Mevo Dotan 47, Ariel 39, Haifa 33 and Modi’in 30. In the south, the Negev Junction logged 35 millimeters, while Beersheba saw 28, the Nevatim area 25, Mitzpe Ramon 18, and smaller amounts were measured in the Arava.
In the Hebron Hills, part of the security barrier separating Israel from the Palestinian Authority collapsed under pressure from water and runoff, leaving a section of the fence open.
The Meteorological Service issued flood warnings across the coastal plain, the lowlands and desert regions, stressing the high risk in dry riverbeds in the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea basin and the Arava. “In the morning, rain will continue from the north to the northern Negev — some of it very heavy,” Givati said. “There remains significant concern for flooding, and only in the second half of the day will the rains decrease and taper off toward evening.”
The downpour forced major road closures and caused significant disruption to transportation. In the Negev, portions of Route 90, Route 40 and roads near Dimona, Sde Boker and Ramon Crater were blocked by flooding, while the entrance to Kibbutz Mashabei Sade was closed. In central Israel, authorities shut Route 446 by Modi’in Illit and Route 463 near Na’ela.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services said its teams had responded to dozens of incidents since Monday night, many involving trapped motorists and flooded residential buildings. Crews rescued people from vehicles in Hora, Nahal Yatir, Tamra, Omer, Nahal Alexander and Kiryat Gat, and evacuated residents from flooded homes in Beit Shemesh, Kiryat Motzkin, Shaar Shomron and Ariel. In Elkana, firefighters brought ten residents, including a mother and her baby, to safety. The agency said command centers were reinforced throughout the storm and urged the public to avoid flooded areas.
Magen David Adom teams were dispatched repeatedly throughout the night to deal with flooded homes and stranded vehicles in Kiryat Gat, Rahat, Shfaram, Modi’in Illit, Beersheba, Kafr Qasem and Tirat Carmel. In all cases examined by medics, no injuries were reported.
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