Rain fell abundantly in Israel on Friday and Saturday. The most precipitation was registered in the coastal plain, the western Galilee and the basin that feeds the Sea of Galilee . In the Sharon area (between Herzliya and Mount Carmel) over 100 mm of rain fell in the last two days. This is equivalent to the annual average for both October and November.
About 70 mm of rain fell in the western Galilee and a similar amount fell near Mount Hermon, which feeds Israel's main water sources. The Sea of Galilee itself received more than 40 mm in direct rainfall, and water level in the Sea of Galilee rose by about the same amount, reaching a level of about -214.33 m. The Israel Water Authority's Hydrological Service estimated that rains expected in the coming days will continue to raise the Sea of Galilee's level, and that it will reach -214.30 by Tuesday – a full 7 cm. above its level a week ago.
However, experts note that Israel's water shortage is an acute one. The Sea of Galilee is still 5.53 m. lower than the level at which it is considered “full.” This means that 200 straight days of rainfall of the intensity experienced over the weekend still would not bring it to its optimal level, so that water conservation is still of the utmost importance..
On the more positive side, the Hydrological Service estimated that the weekend rains mark the end of the consecutive drops in the Sea of Galilee's water level that are typical of the summer and fall months. It also noted that in recent years, the Sea of Galilee's level began rising in late December, whereas this year the rise began at the end of October.