VIDEO: Israel in midst of winter wonderland on first day of new year
Israel remains in the grip of a winter storm that dumped 30 centimeters of snow on the lower plateau of Mt. Hermon and 60 centimeters on the upper ridge.
By JPOST.COM STAFFSnow on Hermon 1
Fierce winds combined with precipitation of rain, sleet, and snow forced the cancelation of school in the Galilee town of Safed on Friday, though instruction will take place as per usual in Merom Galil.Israel remains in the grip of a winter storm that dumped 30 centimeters of snow on the lower plateau of Mt. Hermon and 60 centimeters on the upper ridge.Snow on Hermon 2As of 7:15 a.m., snow continued to accumulate at the site. More of the white stuff is expected throughout the day on Friday in the higher-elevated areas, with a chance that it could fall in Jerusalem.Local and regional authorities began to make preparations on Wednesday, as forecasts showed thunderstorms, drops in temperature and heavy rains for much of the country over the next few days.Snow on Hermon 3The incoming storm is typical for the season, caused by an upper air trough with cold air from Russia, accompanied by a depression from Cyprus, explained Amos Porat, head of the Israel Meteorological Service’s Climate Department. A meteorological trough features low atmospheric pressure, as opposed to a ridge, which features high atmospheric pressure.“It is the first time this season that we are having this wintry system and it should bring some significant rainfall for the North,” Porat told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.Snow on Hermon 4The day before, the Water Authority had warned that Lake Galilee’s water levels were plummeting, due to the lack of substantial rainfall in the North thus far this season.Authority officials expressed their hopes on Tuesday that the large amounts of precipitation forecasted would benefit the reservoir.On Wednesday, the Golan Heights Regional Council held a preparatory meeting together with the Israel Police, the IDF, the Israel Electric Corporation, Magen David Adom and Netivei Israel-National Transport Infrastructure Company Ltd. to coordinate the activities of all of these bodies during the incoming winter storm.Once the storm begins, teams will block traffic arteries, scatter salt and plow roads when necessary, as well as open an information center for Golan residents, the council said. Rescue vehicles will be on alert, the council added.