Snow in Israel

Snowfall in Israel is not uncommon but occurs mainly in certain parts of the country. In January and February 1950, Israel experienced the largest snowfall registered since the beginning of meteorological measurements in 1870.

Satellite image of the 2013 Middle East cold snap

History

1950 snowfall

Snow at Kibbutz Gan Shmuel, 1950

The snow event began in early January 1950 with a hailstorm in Tel Aviv and light snow in the mountains of the Upper Galilee and Jerusalem.[1]

On January 27, it began to snow in the northern mountains and Jerusalem. It piled up but quickly melted. A cold front spread throughout the country and snow began falling in the mountains of Samaria and the West. On the 28th it snowed in Haifa and piled up to a height of 15 cm. Even in Tel Aviv, snow fell for several minutes.[2] On January 29, it snowed again in Haifa, blanketing most of the city in white.[3]

A week later, on February 6–7, heavy snow began to fall across the country. The depth reached 60 cm in Safed, Jerusalem and 100 cm, and 17 cm in Haifa, and 12 –19 cm in Tel Aviv and Lod; it also snowed in Petah Tikva, Netanya and Samaria, in Rishon Lezion's streets, on the mountains surrounding the Sea of Galilee, and in the Negev.[4] On February 8, the snow also came to the Dead Sea, where 8 cm of snow was reported.[5]

2013 snowfall
Further information: 2013 Middle East cold snap
Two people pulling a cart of bread on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, December 12, 2013

On December 13, 2013, 40–70 cm (16–28 in) of snow fell in Jerusalem and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in the Kefar Etzion area. Warmer parts of Israel received heavy rains, causing floods. Although it was the Sabbath, the railway into Jerusalem ran for people stranded by blocked roads.

Roads were closed in Israel by deep snow and flooding. Storm clouds prompted Ben Gurion International Airport to shut down, forcing US Secretary of State John Kerry to cut short his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to return to Israel before roads and airports were out of service.[6] Jerusalem was cut off for 48 hours by deep snow and flooding and cars abandoned after they got stuck in snow.

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See also

References
  1. Cold wave moves in the Middle East, Al HaMishmar (January 16, 1950)
  2. And the country wore whiteness, Al HaMishmar (January 29, 1950)
  3. Haifa wearing snow..., Al HaMishmar (January 30, 1950)
  4. Snow across the country, Al HaMishmar (February 6, 1950)
  5. Snow on Dead Sea coast, Al HaMishmar (February 9, 1950)
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