On Sunday, April 21, snow fell on Mount Hermon during Passover for the first time in 22 years.
With approximately eight inches of snow already on the ground and accumulation set to continue throughout the day, the Hermon ski resort management closed the site to visitors. Snowfall was also reported in towns in the Golan Heights.
Unseasonable rainstorms drenched the country from north to south, as vacationers tried to find ways to enjoy the Passover holiday indoors. Many parks which were opened for free to hikers and visitors for the holiday were closed, including the Ein Gedi nature reserve. Outdoor events around the country were canceled or rescheduled for later in the week.
While some local scattered showers were forecast for Monday morning, the day scheduled for the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony at the Western Wall plaza, temperatures are expected to rise and rains to dry up throughout the week, according to the Israel Meteorological Service.
Massive rainfalls this year broke a five-year drought. Measurements at the Sea of Galilee showed over triple last year's rainfall.
The Sea of Galilee, Israel's primary natural water source, rose from just 16 inches away from the black line – the point past which the lake becomes ecologically imbalanced – to 11.25 feet from the black line as of April 20.
It is now 8.75 feet from its upper limit, after which point it would flood its banks.
This article is reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
