Snow accumulated in the Golan Heights, flurries were scattered in higher areas of Jerusalem, and coastal cities reported flooding.
The storm system reached its peak before dawn Sunday and is expected to die out on Monday. The country was threatened with a severe drought after more than three weeks of unseasonably warm and dry weather at the beginning of the winter season, but the storm has replenished the shortage in most places.
More than four inches of rain fell in northern areas and in Ra'anana, north of Tel Aviv. Ra'anana rescue teams were forced to evacuate 18 elderly people form the flooded first floor of their retirement home.
In Jerusalem, where the average annual rainfall is about 26 inches, almost three inches of rain fell, and more than two inches were received in Ashkelon, on the edge of the northern Negev.
The storm has added more than three inches to the level of Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee), which will continue to rise as run-off continues to drain into the lake from the Golan Heights. The Kinneret is Israel's largest single source of water and is several feet below the optimal level.
The heavy rains caused flooding in the coastal city of Nahariya, near the Lebanon border, and in areas of Haifa and Kfar Saba.
More than three feet of snow piled up at the Mount Hermon ski site, which was closed to visitors because of heavy snowstorms. The ski site is expected to open on Tuesday.
The storm system reached its peak before dawn Sunday and is expected to die out on Monday. The country was threatened with a severe drought after more than three weeks of unseasonably warm and dry weather at the beginning of the winter season, but the storm has replenished the shortage in most places.
More than four inches of rain fell in northern areas and in Ra'anana, north of Tel Aviv. Ra'anana rescue teams were forced to evacuate 18 elderly people form the flooded first floor of their retirement home.
In Jerusalem, where the average annual rainfall is about 26 inches, almost three inches of rain fell, and more than two inches were received in Ashkelon, on the edge of the northern Negev.
The storm has added more than three inches to the level of Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee), which will continue to rise as run-off continues to drain into the lake from the Golan Heights. The Kinneret is Israel's largest single source of water and is several feet below the optimal level.
The heavy rains caused flooding in the coastal city of Nahariya, near the Lebanon border, and in areas of Haifa and Kfar Saba.
More than three feet of snow piled up at the Mount Hermon ski site, which was closed to visitors because of heavy snowstorms. The ski site is expected to open on Tuesday.