Tens of thousands of lightning strikes illuminated the Israeli sky overnight (between Monday and Tuesday). Powerful rains drenched vast areas, causing flash floods and flooding from the north all the way to the Negev Desert. Rain totals measured so far include 50 mm (1.97 inches) in Karnei Shomron , 47 mm (1.85 inches) in Mevo Dotan , and approximately 33 mm (1.30 inches) in Haifa. Fire and Rescue crews successfully rescued vehicles stranded in floods across the Southern and Northern Districts , while Magen David Adom teams provided care to individuals trapped in cars due to flooded roadways nationwide. Powerful rains are forecast to continue on Tuesday , carrying a significant risk of further flash floods in the Judean Desert and Dead Sea wadis, as well as in the Negev.
Video: Lightning strikes Gesher / Gesher security team
Over the course of the night, dozens of thousands of thunderstorms and lightning developed across widespread regions. The weather gradually intensified, beginning in the Arabah and along the coastal plain. Large quantities of rain fell across many areas in the northern and central parts of the country , accompanied by both hail and wind gusts.
Video: Vehicle being rescued after flooding in Tamra / Israel Fire and Rescue Service
Rainfall measurements reached 50 mm (1.97 inches) in Karnei Shomron , 47 mm (1.85 inches) in Mevo Dotan , 39 mm (1.54 inches) in Ariel , approximately 33 mm (1.30 inches) in Haifa , and around 30 mm (1.18 inches) in Modi'in. Substantial rains also began to fall toward the morning in parts of the Negev and the Judean Desert. Water flows started in some Judean Desert wadis and in the Ramat HaNegev and Beersheba areas. Rain totals in these southern areas included: roughly 35 mm (1.38 inches) at the Negev Junction , about 28 mm (1.10 inches) in Beersheba , around 25 mm (0.98 inches) in the Nevatim region , approximately 18 mm (0.71 inches) in Mitzpe Ramon , about 6 mm (0.24 inches) in Yotvata , and even 1.5 mm (0.06 inches) in Paran.
Video: Flooding in southern Israel / Yuval Tobol
In the south, first responder teams responded to the weather conditions by operating in several simultaneous rescue incidents. At the Yattir Stream, a truck that had been swept away by a flash flood was rescued. Crews from the Beersheba and Hura stations executed complicated rescue procedures. The individual who was trapped was rescued in good condition and was transferred to Magen David Adom teams for ongoing medical care. On Highway 358, a person was rescued from a vehicle after flood flows made further driving impossible. Additionally, in the Ramot neighborhood of Beersheba, Israel Fire and Rescue Services teams rescued two vehicles stranded by flooding on Ben Zvi Boulevard.
Video: Binyamin Regional Council flooding / Credit: Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Article 27a
In the Northern District, Fire and Rescue Services and Rescue crews from the Central Galilee station, supported by the Special Rescue Unit, rescued two trapped persons from an off-road vehicle that became stuck in a channel near Highway 70 in the Tamra area. Strong water runoff had dragged the vehicle into that location. The firefighters secured the vehicle using the fire truck , and subsequently carried out a rescue operation using ropes , successfully extracting the driver and passenger to safety.
Video: Flooding in northern Israel / Credit: Social media
From the overnight hours until now, Magen David Adom teams were also dispatched to multiple reports of house floods and vehicles stuck in puddles. Magen David Adom teams were sent to incidents involving people trapped in cars in puddles and house floods in Kiryat Gat, Shfaram, Modi'in Illit, Kiryat Motzkin, Beit Shemesh, Beersheba, Rahat, Kafr Qasim, and Tirat Carmel. After an assessment, none of the individuals required medical treatment.
Video: Flooding in northern Israel's Nesher town / Credit: Social media
Rains are expected to continue falling from the north to the northern Negev over the next few hours , with some being very powerful. There remains a significant risk of flash floods in the Judean Desert and Dead Sea wadis , as well as in the Negev and Arabah. There is also a risk of flooding in the coastal plain, the north, and the central mountains. Only during the latter half of Tuesday will the rains substantially decrease , practically ceasing entirely in the evening.
