Rainy weekend leaves parts of Israel flooded

The Upper Galilee region received 50 milimeters of rain, while Tzemach Beach at Lake Kinneret had 35 millimeters.

By SHARON UDASIN
A woman walks in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem (photo credit: REUTERS)
A woman walks in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Rains flooded the country’s streets and fields over the weekend, reeking havoc for the nation’s drivers but boosting the Kinneret’s water level.
North Tel Aviv and Kfar Hayarok received the highest amount of this weekend’s rain, accumulating 77 mm., an Israel Meteorological Services forecaster told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday night. From Thursday through Saturday night, rain poured from the North to the South, with 7 mm. falling in the Arava Desert, according to the IMS data.
The Upper Galilee region received 50 mm. of rain, while Tzemah Beach at Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) had 35 mm. In the Haifa area, 20 mm. of rain fell, while 30 mm. washed over the nation’s capital, IMS data recorded. About 10 mm. fell in Ashdod.
The rains were set to subside overnight on Saturday, but would likely resume again in the North on Monday – falling from the far North to the northern Negev by Tuesday, the forecaster said.
Lake Kinneret received a welcome boost of 1 cm. from the rains, the Water Authority reported. The Kinneret’s water level stood at 212.84 m. below sea level as of midday Saturday.
“These rains are a welcome contribution to the water sector after a long dry season of many months,” a statement from the Water Authority said.
Throughout the storm, as of midday Saturday, Nahal Ayalon recorded the strongest flow, gushing at 27 cu. m. per second – its strongest flow for this time of year, the Water Authority reported. Flows also increased in other streams in the Center of the country, such as Nahal Sorek, Nahal Lachish, Nahal Alexander and the other streams of the Sharon. The Kinneret basin streams have not yet registered strong flows, however, the Water Authority said.
The Lake Kinneret Drainage and Rivers Authority confirmed that as a result of the rains, some of the area’s streams had begun flowing slightly, but that after a dry summer, these waterways would require a minimum of 100 – 150 mm. to guarantee a strong flow.
Unlike in the areas of the Dead Sea, where every millimeter can change the situation, the lands near Lake Kinneret absorb much water before a steady flow begins, said Ran Molcho, engineer for the authority.
“The Lake Kinneret Drainage and Rivers Authority hopes for a rainy year for the good of the Kinneret, the streams, agriculture and wild vegetation,” a statement from the authority said.