Photo by
Shay Yadel El Porat/TPS-IL on 31 December, 2024
Flash Floods Shut Israeli Roads Amid Winter Rains
Jerusalem, 31 December, 2024 (TPS-IL) -- Severe flooding across Israel forced road closures amid torrential rains on Tuesday.
Northern Israel was hit with record-breaking rainfall. Haifa saw over 180 mm of rain in 72 hours, shattering a 55-year-old record.
Flash floods turned roads into rivers near Ben Gurion International Airport and the Dead Sea, prompting authorities to shut down sections of key highways.
In southern Israel, police reported flooding and erosion on a 15-kilometer stretch of the highway along the Dead Sea between Ein Gedi and Metsuke Dragot. Another nine-kilometer section from the Lido Junction to the Einot Tsukim nature reserve on the northern edge of the Dead Sea was also closed. Drivers were advised to avoid these areas, and hikers were warned about the risks of flash floods.
In central Israel, police shut down two eastbound lanes of Route 1 near Ben Gurion Airport. In Ramat Gan, videos shared online showed deep-standing water on roads. The Ashdod municipality said rainfall peaked at 128 millimeters per hour.
In the north, snowfall on Mount Hermon’s upper slopes reached 55 cm while 40 cm was recorded on the lower slopes. The mountain and its popular ski slopes have been closed to visitors since war broke out.
The storm, which began Friday night, brought much-needed rain following an unseasonably warm and dry December. A rare hailstorm struck Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning before the skies cleared at midday. Weather forecasts predict the storm will taper off by Tuesday evening, with sunny skies returning on New Year’s Day.
No major injuries were reported.
