(VIDEOS & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

The rain that everyone has been Davening for in Eretz Yisroel, Boruch Hashem arrived on Friday. But along with it came damage to vehicles, homes, and property.

Hurricane force winds as high as 100 kilometers an hour and torrential rains were seen across the country, as snow came down in the northern peaks and Golan Heights. There were also large and strong waves striking the coast.

Authorities took precautions ahead of the storms. In most cities, municipalities cleared out the sewer systems, trimmed trees, strengthening lampposts and signposts etc. Despite these precautions, many trees fell striking parked cars, homes and blocking roadways.

There was heavy flooding in many areas, with emergency personnel making rescues in many areas with people trapped in flood waters.

In the video below, we see water pouring into the Kinneret. The water level rose a few centimeters in just a few hours.

A 70-year-old man and two children aged 6 and 9 were rescued Friday morning by the police in northern Israel after their vehicle became almost completely engulfed by floods.

Magen David (MDA) paramedics said the children were evacuated to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera in light condition having suffered from hypothermia.

Elsewhere throughout the day, the rapid winds caused minor damage as trees collapsed onto parked cars in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and as trampolines and other objects were propelled into the air.

At least ten centimeters of snow fell on the lower ridge of Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest mountain, causing the ski resort at the site to announce it would be closed Friday.

Hail fell in the coastal city of Netanya.

Meteorologists say the storm will begin to weaken by Friday evening, moving quickly eastward into Jordan and Iraq.

(Yossi Taub – YWN)