Israel Nature Society officials are urging hikers to avoid certain areas including the Aravah, Negev and Judean Desert regions due to expected severe sharav heat-wave conditions.

Rescue and extrication units are standing by today, Wednesday, realizing there will in all likelihood be an increased number of calls for assistance than yesterday for hikers running out of water and other weather-related emergencies. MDA emergency medical service personnel in those areas also remain on heightened alert.

According to forecaster Eliezer Danziger, temperatures should begin dropping gradually on Thursday and Friday, with Shabbos bringing more-or-less seasonal weather.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)