Posted on 02/10/2005 1:49:13 PM PST by anotherview
Feb. 10, 2005 22:00
Snow expected in Jerusalem as cold spell peaks
By DAVID RUDGE
Snow is forecast for Jerusalem and hilly central districts over the weekend as well as Mount Hermon and northern peaks as the recent cold spell reaches a peak.
The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) said rain in the North on Thursday night would turn to snow on northern reaches of the Golan and Galilee hilltops, as well as Mt. Hermon.
The rain is slated to spread to central and southern district in the course of Friday with the prospects of sleet in Jerusalem, although this is expected to turn to snow in the evening.
Snow is expected to fall in the capital on Saturday and, for the first time this winter, is likely to accumulate on the ground, as well as in other hilly districts as far south as Negev peaks, 900 meters or more above sea-level.
The cold front that has seen temperatures plummet to well below average for this time of the year is slated to continue until Sunday afternoon after which it is expected to be warmer and drier.
The IMS reported that the rain and snow would be concentrated more over central and southern districts from the latter part of Saturday with the risk of floods in the Arava, the Negev and other low-lying areas.
The Jerusalem municipality has put its crews on a snow emergency footing should it prove necessary to clear main routes to hospitals and other essential areas.
The cold snap has also stretched the power-producing capabilities of the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) almost to the limit.
The IEC reported an all time record for demand of 8,840 megawatts around 7 pm on Wednesday leaving just 360 megawatts in reserve.
The IEC has also put its staff on emergency footing in light of the coming cold snap to try and maintain production at optimal levels and deal with any breakdowns as quickly as possible.
For the Mt. Hermon ski site, it has been a good winter week that has left up to 1.50 meters of accumulated snow on the lower slopes and almost 2 ms on the peak.
The site reopened on Thursday after being closed for most of the week because of heavy snowfalls. Visitors were advised to check weather conditions at the site beforehand before setting out for the peak over the weekend.
It has also been an excellent week for the nation's fresh water reserves. The level of Lake Kinneret rose by a total of 41 centimeters from last Thursday out of an overall increase of 72 cms since the beginning of the winter.
Water Commissioners' Office (WCO) spokesman Uri Schor said the level on Thursday stood at 210.10 ms below sea-level. This is 1.30 ms under the maximum mark of 208.80 ms below sea-level.
The maximum mark is the point at which the Deganya sluice gates would have to be opened to drain water into the southern reaches of the Jordan River and downwards to the Dead Sea to prevent flooding around the lake and in Tiberias - an event that has not happened in over a decade
Schor noted that the lake was still some 30 cms lower than it was at this time last year, but he expressed the hope that this winter would not cease at the end of February as it did in 2004 but would continue through the Spring.
From last year's storm.
How's your weather? I never knew that it snowed it Israel.
Jerusalem gets snow almost every winter. In Netanya, on the coast, it never snows. It does get cold, though. It's winter. Probably 55F right now.
Today's Israeli weather:
Jerusalem
1-5°C / 33-41°F Snow
Tel Aviv
7-12°C / 44-53°F Rain
Haifa
6-9°C / 42-48°F Rain
Golan
-2-5°C / 28-41°F Snow
The Plains
6-11°C / 42-51°F Rain
Galilee
-1-3°C / 30-37°F Snow
Jericho
6-12°C / 42-53°F Rain
Beer Sheva
4-10°C / 39-50°F Rain
Dead Sea
8-16°C / 46-60°F Rain
Eilat
7-17°C / 44-62°F Intermitent Rain
I should add that Mt. Hermon is a ski resort and gets lots and lots of snow.
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