The first snowstorm (not including on Mt. Hermon) of Winter 2003-4 (5764) hit Israel yesterday and last night, and many towns were all but closed down this morning. School was called off in the Jerusalem area, as well as in the north and the northern Golan. Transportation in the capital resumed late this morning, but remained inoperative in many regions throughout much of the day.
The storm began yesterday afternoon, earlier than expected, and snow fell in lower altitudes than expected. Hills that peaked at barely 400 meters were snowed throughout the entire Galilee and Golan. On mountains over 700 meters in height, the white stuff piled up to 20-40 centimeters (8-16 inches). The snow in the north stopped over the night, but resumed this morning. Several roads in the area were closed until the afternoon.
Snow is expected in Jerusalem throughout the day, though with long breaks in between. Two-to-four inches piled up in the capital, but all the roadways are clear - for now. The temperatures in Jerusalem dropped from 52 degrees in the morning to 32 by afternoon (11-0 Centigrade).
The women's section of the Western Wall plaza is closed, following the collapse last night of a section of the path leading to the Mughrabi Gate above the plaza. Several stones became dislodged and fell, causing no injuries.
Welcome flooding is expected over the coming days from the mountains into the Kinneret Sea, Israel's largest reservoir, but potentially dangerous flooding is anticipated in the Negev and Judean Desert.
In Jerusalem, Hebrew University, the Supreme Court and Knesset committees are taking the day off. On the other hand, the capital is preparing to greet thousands of visitors from around the country who wish to partake of the city's blanket of white - including the traditional snowman-building competition in Sacher Park.
The storm began yesterday afternoon, earlier than expected, and snow fell in lower altitudes than expected. Hills that peaked at barely 400 meters were snowed throughout the entire Galilee and Golan. On mountains over 700 meters in height, the white stuff piled up to 20-40 centimeters (8-16 inches). The snow in the north stopped over the night, but resumed this morning. Several roads in the area were closed until the afternoon.
Snow is expected in Jerusalem throughout the day, though with long breaks in between. Two-to-four inches piled up in the capital, but all the roadways are clear - for now. The temperatures in Jerusalem dropped from 52 degrees in the morning to 32 by afternoon (11-0 Centigrade).
The women's section of the Western Wall plaza is closed, following the collapse last night of a section of the path leading to the Mughrabi Gate above the plaza. Several stones became dislodged and fell, causing no injuries.
Welcome flooding is expected over the coming days from the mountains into the Kinneret Sea, Israel's largest reservoir, but potentially dangerous flooding is anticipated in the Negev and Judean Desert.
In Jerusalem, Hebrew University, the Supreme Court and Knesset committees are taking the day off. On the other hand, the capital is preparing to greet thousands of visitors from around the country who wish to partake of the city's blanket of white - including the traditional snowman-building competition in Sacher Park.