Galilee farmers gleefully welcomed up to one inch of rain that fell on Monday, and weather forecasters have promised even heavier rains from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday, when the storm will reach the northern Negev. Marble-sized hail covered the ground in several areas in the north Monday afternoon.

The lack of rain until this week has forced farmers to give cattle commercial feed because of the lack of natural growth, and dry reservoirs have forced farmers to irrigate their fields with water from the national carrier.