Record-Breaking Summer Rain in Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim
Unusually heavy summer rain fell this afternoon in Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim. Ma'ale Adumim recorded 26 mm of rain, 21 mm of it in one hour. The downpour caused flooding and rescues in East Jerusalem, and flash floods swept through Judean Desert streams. The Meteorological Service called it a historic August record, and another rain wave is expected tomorrow along the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea.
Unusually heavy summer rain fell today (Saturday) during the afternoon in Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, according to the Meteorological Service. Ma'ale Adumim recorded 26 mm of rain, 21 mm of it in just one hour. Heavy rain fell mainly in the eastern and southern neighborhoods of Jerusalem, causing urban flooding and rescues of residents from flooded homes and vehicles in the eastern part of the city. Central Jerusalem saw 5 mm, and Gush Etzion received 20 mm in a short time. A flash flood was recorded in Nahal Og in the northern Judean Desert, as well as in the upper part of Nahal Kidron, which drains the eastern part of the city. The Meteorological Service noted that in the Judean Hills this is a historic record for August rainfall. The highest amount previously measured in the Jerusalem area in July/August since the mid-19th century was 1 mm about a hundred years ago on the Mount of Olives. Due to the intense rains, flash floods developed in the streams of Kelt, Og, Kidron, and Tekoa in the Judean Desert. Nationally, a rain event of over 25 mm in August is very rare and has occurred only three times since measurements began: in the Golan Heights in August 2012, in Kfar Galim in August 1971, and in Zikhron Ya'akov in 1920. According to the Meteorological Service, another rain wave is expected tomorrow in the eastern part of the country, starting at noon and strengthening in the afternoon. High and unusual amounts of rain are expected, and August rainfall records may be broken again in various areas along the Jordan Valley, Judean Desert, and Dead Sea. There is a risk of flash floods and flooding in these areas, and hiking is prohibited. The Meteorological Service linked the rare event to the intensifying Super El Niño phenomenon, which could affect Israel in the coming months, mainly in the form of strong rainfall intensities and flood events. The Israel Police noted that flash floods are expected in the Judean Desert streams and the northern and southern Dead Sea, and that officers will be deployed in relevant areas to provide optimal service and protect lives.