Heavy rain fell overnight and into Saturday morning across central Israel, particularly in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the Shfela lowlands, after the Israel Meteorological Service issued multiple severe weather warnings on Friday, including alerts for flooding, flash floods, thunderstorms, and dangerous sea conditions.
The Meteorological Service said the rainfall record was broken after 117 mm of rain fell in just an hour and a quarter at the meteorological service station in Moshav Kadima.
Between midnight and 6 a.m., Ashdod received about 45 millimeters of rain, Rehovot 42 millimeters, and Tel Aviv 40 millimeters, including 35 millimeters in a single hour.
By 10:35, 83 millimeters had fallen in Ashdod, and 50 millimeters were measured in Binyamina in a single hour. The service warned of possible flooding in cities across central Israel in the coming hours.
On Friday, most of the rain fell in eastern Israel, with about 15 millimeters recorded in a single hour around Lake Kinneret and the Jordan Valley.
Israel Meteorological Service Director Dr. Amir Givati explained Friday that the rainfall was expected to shift late overnight, particularly on Saturday morning, and it subsequently did.
Rain also reached the northern, central and especially southern sections of the coast, where significant rainfall is expected throughout Saturday. Later in the day, rain is also expected to reach western Israel.
An orange warning for flooding was put into effect on Friday until 10 p.m. Saturday in the Carmel region, along the northern, central, and southern coastal areas, and in the Judean Foothills.
The service has also issued a yellow warning for flash floods in the northern Judean Desert and Dead Sea area, effective through 10 p.m. Saturday.
Rescue services respond to historical rainfall
Firefighters and rescue workers worked today (Saturday) in dozens of flooding incidents across the country following the heavy rains.
In Netanya, an elderly couple was rescued from a flooded house; in Kadima-Tzoran and Even Yehuda, residents who were stuck in their cars were rescued; and in Ramat Gan, teams were called to a flooded underground parking lot.
In Jerusalem, a woman and a dog were rescued from a house in the German colony, and in Ashdod, people trapped in vehicles were rescued.
No injuries were reported in the incidents, and fire departments continue to operate in an enhanced capacity.
Water flows through Nahal Qumran
Water was seen rushing through Nahal Qumran on Saturday, following Friday night's rain.
Dangerous Mediterranean Sea conditions prompt orange warning as waves reach nearly two meters
In addition, an orange warning for dangerous swimming conditions in the Mediterranean Sea is in effect from 10 p.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Saturday.
Sea conditions are expected to range from slight to moderate, with significant wave heights of 1.2 to 1.9 meters (approximately 4 to 6.2 feet), and waves expected to increase in height.