Jerusalem in snow (file)
Jerusalem in snow (file)Mendy Hechtman/Flash 90

Israel is anticipated to come under a winter storm this Friday with possible snow falling in the capital of Jerusalem, but the wintry weather started showing signs already on Tuesday night with rain in the coastal plains.

Local rains are expected on Wednesday, from Haifa in the north to Be'er Sheva in the south, accompanied by a noted drop in temperatures. There are concerns of flooding at rivers in Israel's south and east.

The rain is to progressively grow stronger on Thursday from the north to the Negev, and thunder storms are also expected along with an additional drop in temperatures.

Then on Friday the full blast of the wave of winter weather is to reach its peak, with rain and storms in most parts of the country, and snow anticipated in the mountainous regions.

Ahead of the possible snowfall in Jerusalem, the municipality on Wednesday will hold an assessment of the situation according to the updated forecasts, and if the chances of snow are reckoned to be high enough, preparations to cope with the impending snowfall will be launched.

Snow is expected to fall on Mount Hermon in Israel's north as early as Thursday, with snow in the northern mountains anticipated to last from Thursday night on into Friday.

Temperatures on Wednesday are to be as follows: up to 19° C (66° F) in Tel Aviv, highs of 13° C (55° F) in Jerusalem, 16° C (60° F) in Haifa, 16° C in the Golan Heights, Tzfat (Safed) and the Galilee mountains, 20° C (68° F) in Tiberias, 21° C (70° F) in the Dead Sea region, 16° C in Be'er Sheva, and 19° C in Eilat.