It often seems that the weather on Yom Kippur is pre-ordained to be hot and usually very dry.
By DAVID RUDGE
It often seems that the weather on Yom Kippur is pre-ordained to be hot and usually very dry.
This year, according to the Israel Meteorological Service (IMS), is destined to be no different, despite the fact that it is almost the middle of October.
IMS duty forecaster Rinat Rahamim said there would be a rise in temperatures on Wednesday, the eve of Yom Kippur, and that it would be hotter and drier than average for this time of year.
Similar weather conditions are slated for Thursday with temperatures reaching 30 degrees in Jerusalem and Haifa and highs of 35 around Lake Kinneret, the Dead Sea and Beersheba and 37 in the Jordan Valley and Eilat.
“The weather will certainly be hotter and drier than average in inland areas and the hilly district, with 30 degrees expected in Jerusalem as well as in the Golan and on Galilee peaks,†said Rahamim.
“Humidity levels will drop so that along the coast in Tel Aviv, for instance it will be more pleasant than usual with around 29 degrees and just 50 percent humidity,†she told The Jerusalem Post. “In inland areas, such as Jerusalem, humidity is expected to be around just 30%, and at 30 degrees it will feel quite hot and dry.â€
IMS officials recommended that people who are fasting should drink lots of water prior to the last meal on Wednesday night and to remain indoors as much as possible throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
Ironically, the weather is set to change on Friday with a marked drop in temperatures and a rise in humidity followed by further cooling on Saturday.