Red Alert: Extreme Winter Storm Set to Slam Israel With 100 KMH Winds

Israel is bracing for an intense and potentially destructive winter storm as a massive weather system moves across the country. While the initial rains began over the weekend, meteorologists warn that the current pause is merely a temporary lull before a much more significant and violent wave arrives on Monday morning. The Israel Meteorological Service has issued a "red precipitation warning" for several regions, predicting that heavy rainfall, powerful wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour, and significant snow on Mount Hermon will create hazardous conditions through the early part of the week.

The peak of the storm is expected on Monday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., specifically targeting the Sharon region, the Shomron, and the Gush Dan metropolitan area. Experts predict that up to 150 millimeters of rain could fall in just a few hours in some locations, particularly near the Yarkon and Alexander river basins. This extreme volume of water in such a short window poses a severe risk of urban flooding and flash floods in major rivers, including the Hadera, Poleg, Ayalon, and Sorek. Emergency services have already performed several dramatic rescues, including saving a family with a young child trapped in their vehicle on Highway 80 due to sudden flooding.

Beyond the rainfall, the winds are expected to be exceptionally strong, reaching speeds of 90 to 100 kilometers per hour along the coast and 80 to 90 kilometers per hour in the mountains. Fire and Rescue Services Commissioner Eyal Caspi has placed the entire department on full alert, warning that such winds can cause trees to collapse, damage power lines, and turn unsecured objects into lethal projectiles. The public is urged to secure outdoor furniture and avoid elevators or underground parking garages in flood prone areas.

The storm has already left its mark on Jerusalem, where a sidewalk collapsed at the entrance to Chef Assaf Granit’s "The Steakhouse" restaurant near the Mahane Yehuda market. While the rain is a welcome sight for the country's water reserves, the impact on the Sea of Galilee has been minimal so far, with the water level rising only one centimeter and remaining 41.5 centimeters below the lower red line. The storm is expected to weaken by Tuesday, with a brief respite on Wednesday before another wave of rain returns on Thursday. Authorities emphasize that entering flowing riverbeds or flooded roads is a "real danger to life" and must be avoided at all costs.