One week of continuous rainfall has broken records across Israel, the Meteorological Service announced Wednesday, with unprecedented precipitation before winter has formally begun.
333 mm (13.1 inches) of rain fell in the Sharon region over the past month, they said - over five times the national average of 64 mm (2.5 inches). In total, less than one month's worth of rain in the area has fulfilled 63% of the area's annual rainfall, despite winter not officially starting.
The southern coastal plain and Ashkelon area has benefitted as well, with rainfall Monday reaching 92 mm (3.6 inches) in one hour - three times the November precipitation average and breaking a 2008 record. Overall, Ashkelon has received 55% of its annual rainfall in less than one month, and 5.5 times more rain than average.
Topping the rainfall measurements are also Tel Aviv (96 mm/3.7 inches), Beit Dagan (86 mm/2.7 inches), Kfar Shmaryahu (71 mm/2.8 inches), Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion (64 mm/2.5 inches), Kfar Giladi (45 mm/1.77 inches) and Jerusalem (43 mm/1.69 inches).
Even in the Negev, where rainfall reached 25-50 mm (0.9 - 1.96 inches), the amounts are far greater than the average for the same period.
In the north, meanwhile, 50mm-100mm (1.96-3.93 inches) of rain constitute 150% of the monthly average, with percentages markedly higher near the coast.
Forecast
Localized rain will fall periodically throughout southern and central Israel Wednesday afternoon, after an unusually cold night Tuesday. The rain is due to stop completely by Thursday night; several areas will see a small rise in temperatures.
Highs predicted include 24°C (75.2°F) in Ashdod and Tel Aviv; 30°C (86°F) in the Dead Sea; 19°C (64.4°F) in Ariel; 18°C (64.4°F) in Jerusalem; 22°C (71.6°F) in Haifa; 23°C (73.4°F) in Be'er Sheva; and 21°C (69.8°F) in Nazareth.
Clouds will clear up Thursday and Friday and the weather will become unseasonably warm over the weekend - once again proving that winter weather is not here to stay just yet.