Jerusalem residents anticipating a white cityscape over the weekend faced disappointment as the "Coral" cold front passing through Israel delivered only low temperatures, without the coveted snowfall.

The Jerusalem Municipality's comprehensive preparations proved excessive, including nighttime and early morning deployment of salt spreaders and the preemptive rescheduling of the soccer derby between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Jerusalem to Friday. Weather forecasts predicting snow in the capital ultimately went unfulfilled.

While Mount Hermon experienced extremely low temperatures and accumulated up to 20 inches of snow at its upper elevations, Jerusalem residents woke to nothing more than an exceptionally cold morning under partly cloudy skies. Though schools delayed their opening until 9 a.m., the city recorded no significant precipitation beyond the low temperatures.

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The Israel Meteorological Service has officially joined the European initiative for naming significant weather events, announcing "Coral" as the designation for an exceptional cold wave approaching Israel. The storm system is set to impact the country from this weekend into early next week.

The naming convention, established in partnership with meteorological services in Cyprus and Greece, was introduced at the season's start. While the first two named storms this season affected only Greece, Coral marks the first storm to target the eastern Mediterranean region, including Israel. Weather services typically reserve names for events that pose potential public safety risks and require advance preparation by authorities.

Coral is forecast to deliver arctic temperatures direct from the North Pole, accompanied by snowfall across the northern mountains, central regions, and likely Jerusalem. Current projections indicate snow will begin in the northern mountains on Saturday. The snowfall is expected to expand to unusually low elevations by Sunday, with snowfall possible in areas above 1,640–2,297 feet, stretching from the northern border through Jerusalem and extending to the Hebron hills. Meteorologists note it remains challenging to predict precise snowfall amounts and potential ground accumulation.

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The incoming cold front promises to drop temperatures significantly, creating conditions conducive to snowfall across various mountainous regions, while raising concerns about potential flash floods in the Judean Desert.

A perfect snowy weekend? Heading into Friday, temperatures will drop significantly – raising the possibility of snow in parts of the country, particularly in the higher northern mountains. On Saturday, temperatures will continue to plunge, with snow possible across most of the country's mountainous regions – including the southern mountains.

However, the remaining question is whether this cold front will be accompanied by moisture-laden clouds – which could turn to snow in areas where temperature conditions are suitable. Currently, while clouds are moving in, they are relatively weak – meaning they will primarily bring light rain or light snow. So for now, it appears that even if snow falls, it won't accumulate. But don't be disappointed – it's worth waiting and following the weather models, which are currently split on the question of precipitation amounts, to better predict this cold and rainy front.

Meanwhile, conditions for varying levels of rain exist for Monday in northern Israel and the central mountains.

Monday will be clear to partly cloudy. Local rains are expected in northern Israel and the central mountains during afternoon hours, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures will be seasonal. At peak daytime, the Golan Heights will see 16 degrees (61 Fahrenheit), northern mountains 12-13 degrees (54-55 Fahrenheit), central mountains 14-15 degrees (57-59 Fahrenheit), southern mountains 18 degrees (64 Fahrenheit), coastal areas 19 degrees (66 Fahrenheit), and lowlands 19-20 degrees (66-68 Fahrenheit). The Mediterranean Sea will be calm to wavy with waves 40-70 centimeters (16-28 inches) high.

The Sea of Galilee will be calm with waves 20-40 centimeters (8-16 inches) high, water temperature 18 degrees (64 Fahrenheit). The Red Sea will be calm with waves 20-40 centimeters (8-16 inches) high, water temperature 22 degrees (72 Fahrenheit). In the morning hours, rain clouds will enter northern Israel from the Hadera area, these clouds will move eastward and reach the Golan Heights by afternoon, followed by clouds entering the mountainous areas including the Negev mountains. These clouds will bring scattered local rainfall. Rain clouds will move eastward, so caution is advised regarding flash floods in the Judean Desert area.

Tuesday will be clear to partly cloudy with a slight rise in temperatures. Regarding peak daytime temperatures, the Golan Heights will see 17 degrees (63 Fahrenheit), northern mountains 14-16 degrees (57-61 Fahrenheit), central mountains 16-17 degrees (61-63 Fahrenheit), southern mountains 19 degrees (66 Fahrenheit), coastal areas 20-22 degrees (68-72 Fahrenheit), and lowlands 22-23 degrees (72-73 Fahrenheit).

Wednesday will be partly to mostly cloudy, primarily with medium and high-level clouds. A slight temperature drop will occur. From afternoon hours, drizzle to light rain is possible, mainly along the coastal plain. Regarding peak daytime temperatures, the Golan Heights will see 16 degrees (61 Fahrenheit), northern mountains 13-14 degrees (55-57 Fahrenheit), central mountains 14-15 degrees (57-59 Fahrenheit), southern mountains 18 degrees (64 Fahrenheit), coastal areas 18-19 degrees (64-66 Fahrenheit), and lowlands 18-19 degrees (64-66 Fahrenheit). Regarding rain clouds, these will enter the coast but will deepen toward evening into mountainous areas including the Negev mountains.

Thursday will see rain clouds entering various parts of the country, with initial rain cloud drama followed by significant rain clouds entering northern Israel in the afternoon hours. Friday will bring light rains mainly in central Israel, reaching the eastern part of the country. Toward evening, light clouds will cover Israel up to the central Negev. Later during Saturday, rains will fall on the coast and Negev, with rains reaching the Eilat area.

Friday's temperatures will plummet with daytime peaks in coastal areas at 13-14 degrees (55-57 Fahrenheit), lowlands 13-14 degrees (55-57 Fahrenheit), central mountains 6-8 degrees (43-46 Fahrenheit), northern mountains 5-6 degrees (41-43 Fahrenheit), Golan 10-11 degrees (50-52 Fahrenheit), and southern mountains 8-11 degrees (46-52 Fahrenheit). Nighttime temperatures will be 9-11 degrees (48-52 Fahrenheit) on the coast, lowlands 8-9 degrees (46-48 Fahrenheit), central mountains 3-4 degrees (37-39 Fahrenheit) – temperatures that allow for snow, northern mountains 2 degrees (36 Fahrenheit) – also snow-enabling temperatures, Golan Heights 5 degrees (41 Fahrenheit), and southern mountains 6-7 degrees (43-45 Fahrenheit).

The temperature drop will continue Saturday with snow conditions possible in many areas across the country. Golan Heights will see nighttime temperatures of 3 degrees (37 Fahrenheit), northern mountains 1 degree (34 Fahrenheit), central mountains 1-3 degrees (34-37 Fahrenheit), southern mountains 4-5 degrees (39-41 Fahrenheit) meaning small chances of snow exist, coastal areas 9-11 degrees (48-52 Fahrenheit), and lowlands 8-9 degrees (46-48 Fahrenheit). The northern plateau will experience frost at night.

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The Alfis winter storm reached Jerusalem overnight Thursday blanketing the city by the morning.

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The Jerusalem Municipality canceled schools and daycare centers, with the exception of matriculation exams.

According to forecasts, the capital is expected to get between 10-20 centimeters (3-7 inches accumulated snowfall by the afternoon, and 40-50 centimeters (15-19 inches) in the Golan Heights.

Several highways have been shut down.

Studies were also canceled in Safed and several other locations in northern Israel, while some schools switched to online classes.

Thursday will see rain and wind throughout all of Israel, with more snow expected in mountainous regions. Nevertheless, by Friday, snow will only continue to fall on Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights, and Mount Meron.

Many areas remain under flood alert.

Saturday will be partially cloudy with rain in northern and central Israel with unusually cold temperatures expected.

On Sunday, the temperature is expected to increase slightly.

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The Alfis winter storm system made its way to Israel in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and is expected to high winds and heavy rain to most of the country, starting in the north and spreading to the coastal areas.

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Overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, Mount Hermon and the northern Golan Heights saw another round of snowfall, with accumulation of some 20 cm (eight inches) by mid-morning Wednesday. Hilly regions of the Galilee and central Israel, including Jerusalem, at altitudes of 700 meters (2,200 feet) and higher were also expected to receive snow later Wednesday.

Video: Golan Heights Regional Council

Meteo-Tech Meteorological Services forecast that Jerusalem could see accumulation of 10-20 cm (four to eight inches) of snow; while Golan communities at the 1,000-meter (3,300-foot) altitude and higher could see 40-50 cm (16-20 inches) of snow on the ground.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hail heavy enough to cause flooding were expected in the lower-lying coast, coastal plain, and rural ravines starting Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, haze and sandstorms were affecting air quality in the Negev.

The precipitation was forecast to bring with it unusually cold temperatures.

In preparation for the winter storm conditions, the Israel Police decided to close down several highways on the Golan Heights, and informed the public that more routes might be closed later in the day. The Transportation Ministry has warned that the storm might affect public transportation.

The Jerusalem Municipality has set up a special situation room to handle the needs of residents during the storm.  The school day in Safed ended early on Wednesday, while schools on the Golan Heights were also preparing to close.

Farther to the south, the Har Hebron Regional Council was also making preparations for snow. The Israel Electric Corporation has set up generators in areas of the Hebron Hills where power outages were expected. The council has also called in trucks and snowplows  from Netivei Israel- National Transport Infrastructure Company and the IDF to "handle" the snow.

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Several neighborhoods in Jerusalem saw their first snowfall of the winter last Wednesday night.

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Fearing ice formation on roads and sidewalks, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon issued a directive that classes in the capital would begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday in all educational frameworks and that public transportation would start running one hour later than usual.

Video: Yoni Rykner

Snow also fell in the northern city of Safed and other peaks in the northern mountains and also on Har Bracha in Samaria. Safed Mayor Shuki Ohana called on residents to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, due to the unusually cold weather, the all-time winter power consumption record was broken, as 14,735 megawatts were consumed simultaneously on Wednesday. Hundreds of power outages have been reported across the country, and train disruptions have also been reported.

In the northern Golan Heights, schools were closed on Thursday.

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The first major storm system of winter 2021-22, dubbed "Carmel" by Israel's meteorological authorities, hit the country early month, dumping heavy rain on northern and central Israel, accompanies by thunder, lighting, and heavy winds.

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Snowfall was reported on Mount Hermon Monday morning, and the storm was expected to intensify Monday afternoon.

Earlier Monday, the heavy wind toppled a tree in Netanya, which fell on a 49-year-old man who was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Commander of the IDF's ground forces Maj. Gen. Yoav Strick has issued instructions to stop a number of training regimen due to weather conditions, although ongoing training in northern Israel is at the discretion of division commanders.

"The IDF is working to protect the safety of those who serve, while taking care to maintain the forces' operational readiness," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.

Also Monday, personnel from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority blocked off a number of hiking trails in flood-prone areas nationwide.

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More snow was expected in Israel throughout the day, including in Judea and Samaria, and Jerusalem, and possibly in the higher elevations in the Negev. 

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The Mount Hermon ski resort reported that the snow level rose by 30 centimeters (11 inches) and the temperature in the morning stood at 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit.) Heavy snow is expected in the region for the next two days. 

Meanwhile, firefighters in Haifa helped rescue a man who got trapped in his vehicle after it flipped on its side. He was taken to the hospital and was reported to be in mild condition. 

Another man, in his eighties, was moderately injured after being hit by a tree branch that fell due to strong winds. He was taken to the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center with a broken leg and a head injury. 

The Israel Police blocked the entrance to several highways due to the stormy weather. 

The Sea of Galilee has risen by 1.5 centimeters (1 inch) in the last two days. As of Wednesday morning, it stands at 209.56 meters (670 feet) below sea level, the Water Authority reported. 

The stormy weather is expected to calm on Thursday, however, it will continue to rain intermittently. There is a slight chance of snow on Thursday morning in the northern and central mountains. 

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Continuing from last week, rain and low temperatures were expected in the coming days across the country. From the north to the south, Wednesday saw intermittent rain with thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds. Temperatures will continue to drop, and temperatures will be colder than usual for the season throughout the day.

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Additional snowfall was expected on Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights and there might be light snow on the peaks of the Galilee and further south in places above 900 meters, such as the hilly region of Samaria, Hebron, Kiryat Arba, and in the highest hills of Jerusalem. 

The Hermon ski resort said in a statement that the storm "system is at its peak this morning [Wednesday], the site is covered with a thick layer of snow that continues to fall intermittently. At the top level about 70 cm (27 inches), at the bottom about 40 (16 inches). The temperature at the peak is -4 degrees Celsius (24  degrees Fahrenheit), at the lowest point -1 (30 degrees Fahrenheit), with fog and strong winds. Snow is expected to stop at noon, but the extreme cold will continue."

The site is closed to visitors due to the coronavirus lockdown. The resort said it hopes to receive an opening permit from the Health Ministry at the end of the lockdown, along with all the guidelines required. 

"Snow without visitors is not snow," said CEO of the Mount Hermon ski resort Refael Nave. 

Also on Wednesday, the Water Authority reported that the Sea of Galilee had risen by six centimeters (2.4 inches) in the last 24 hours. The water level currently stands at -209.795 meters (688 feet below sea level), only 5.99 centimeters (2.3 inches) short of the Upper Red Line. 

Thursday is expected to be partly cloudy to clear with slighly higher temperatures. Friday' s forecast is pleasant, with another slight increase in temperature and a decrease in humidity. 

Saturday will be even warmer, with yet another temperature rise. No significant changes are expected on Sunday. 

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On Friday morning, search and rescue teams located the body of a teen who was swept away in Yarka Creek on Thursday.

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Omri Abu-Najab, 14, had reportedly tried to cross the swollen creek in an all-terrain vehicle. A 23-year-old man who was with him managed to fight his way out of the rushing water.

Video: Hof District Search and Rescue Services

Video: Search and rescue workers look for Omri Abu-Najab on Thursday

On Thursday, a man who was swept away in Tzalmon Creek and was found in critical condition was pronounced dead at Rebecca Sieff Hospital in Safed.

According to the man's relatives, he had gone out to shut the gate to the family's goat pen. When he failed to return, the family notified the police, who began searches and eventually found him by the creek.

The rain this week brought the heaviest single-day rainfall in northern Israel since records have been kept. As of Thursday evening, the Sea of Galilee had risen 8.5 cm (3.3 inches), mostly as a result of a downpour that dropped some 65 mm (2.5 inches) of rain.

The northern Golan Heights saw 150 mm (5.9 inches) of rain, which increased the water levels and flow in the Jordan River and in the creeks on the Golan Heights.

Which region got the most rain? As of Thursday evening, it was the western Galilee, which was drenched with nearly 200 mm (7.87 inches) of rain. Swells were reported in the Hilazon and Beit Ha'emek creeks.

The Sharon region, northeast of Tel Aviv, saw over 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain, which caused the Hadera and Alexander creeks to swell.

According to the Israel Meteorological Service, the current storm, which started on Dec. 25, has dropped the most rain ever seen in northern Israel in a single day.

"The heavy rain that fell in northern Israel wiped out the deficit that had existed," said meteorologist Lior Sudri of the company Meteo-Tech.

"Before the storm started, the total rainfall had been about half the average for this time of year. Now the amount of rain is close to the average, and has even surpassed it in some places," Sudari said.

Snowfall was reported on Mount Hermon, with accumulation of 7.9 inches on the lower slopes and 15.7 inches on the upper. The Mount Hermon ski facilities were shut due to the storm.

Elsewhere on Thursday, a commercial vessel that was supposed to dock at the Ashdod Port was driven off course by the storm and went aground on the beach south of the port. No injuries were reported.

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