Record-Breaking Rain Causes Severe Flooding in Israel

On Tuesday, Israel experienced unprecedented rainfall, setting new records and causing widespread flooding across multiple regions, including Haifa. The intense weather overwhelmed local infrastructure, prompting flash flood warnings for areas such as the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea.

In Zikhron Ya'akov, a staggering 196 mm (7.72 inches) of rain fell in just four hours on Tuesday morning, breaking the all-time rainfall record for Israel. Dr. Amir Givati, director of the Meteorological Service in Israel, noted that this rainfall alone represented nearly 60% of the region's typical annual rainfall.

The heavy downpour caused significant flooding, especially in Ma'agan Michael kibbutz, where drainage systems, despite being well-prepared and clean, could not handle the immense volume of water. According to the Hof HaCarmel Regional Council, the drainage systems were simply overwhelmed by the extraordinary quantities of rain.

In the surrounding areas, the flooding created chaos in daily life. In Hof HaCarmel, students at the local high school were sent home early as the parking lot turned into a waterlogged area, with knee-deep water submerging cars. The flooding also blocked the southbound coastal highway south of Haifa, further disrupting travel in the region.

Conditions are forecast to improve on Thursday, November 21, with temperatures returning to seasonal norms. By Friday, November 22, skies are expected to clear further, bringing a slight rise in temperatures.