Rain in Jerusalem
Rain in JerusalemIsrael news photo

Israel is being hit with another official drought for the eighth year in a row, according to the country's Water Authority.

Figures released Monday by the government's executive branch in charge of Israel's water economy classified this year as "arid."

At present, Israel's water supply stands at roughly 2 billion cubic meters.

The winter season, which normally should be filled with rain, has measured up to only 72 percent of the multi-year average rainfall thus far, state-run Voice of Israel radio reported.

At the beginning of December 2011, it appeared as though early winter rains might have saved the situation, slightly reducing the drop in the water level in Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).

But last year's season, even with one month of relatively heavy rains, was still fairly dry and did not escape the official drought that has wracked the entire Middle East for a decade. 

Nevertheless, if January through March 2012 are filled with rain, Israel might yet luck out, and break the cycle.