The unseasonably cold weather and accompanying winter storm has resulted in school closings in certain areas as well as flooding. Despite the forecast, many children in Yerushalayim were disappointed as the snow accumulations that were expected failed to arrive. Shabbos was stormy, with high winds and intermittent showers, and at times, in certain areas wet snow was seen but there were no accumulations in the capital. There was no less than 69mm of rain and wet snow in the weekend (Friday and Shabbos) storm in the capital however.

About 20 centimeters (8 inches) of snow accumulations were reported in the northern Golan Heights on motzei Shabbos, resulting in school closings in that area. There were also reports of snow in Kiryat Arba and Hebron, resulting in school closings as well.

Significant flooding was reported in some southern areas as well, especially in the Dead Sea area, resulting in the closing of major vehicular arteries. Dead Sea area schools are closed as well today, Sunday, 26 Shevat 5772.

A Lod Chabad yeshiva was also filled with water as sewage systems simply could not keep up with the quantity of rainfall.

The showers are expected to dissipate during the day Sunday, 26 Shevat 5772, and no rain is predicted for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)