After being closed for several hours Thursday morning, the main roads to Jerusalem from the Tel Aviv and Modi'in areas – roads 1 and 443 - were reopened Thursday afternoon. That may only be for a short while, however; although snowplows managed to make the roads navigable for commuters, much more snow is expected Thursday night and again on Friday, forecasters said.
As much as 10 centimeters of snow was measured in parts of the city, a result of the snow that fell Thursday morning, according to officials.
Besides Jerusalem, snow is expected in many areas of Judea and Samaria, the Galilee, and the Golan. Most other parts of the country will get heavy rains and hail, all accompanied by high winds and near-freezing temperatures. Flooding is expected in many areas, and drivers were being warned to take extreme care, as roads already soaked with precipitation could freeze up as temperatures plummet, creating dangerous ice situations. Friday night is expected to be especially treacherous.
The storm will let up somewhat on Shabbat day, although thunderstorms are possible throughout the day. Temperatures will remain cold. The system should start heading out of the region Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.
Hundreds of people called on Magen David Adom ambulance service for assistance Thursday morning, and MDA chairperson Eli Been said that the organization was ready for anything. “Because of the closed roads and dangerous driving situations, I call on all drivers to take extra care as they travel. Our staff is on full duty, and we are prepared to deal with any storm-related issues,” he added.