Sinkholes opened on Eliezer Hoofien Street in Holon and Shirat Ge’ulim Street in Herzliya on Wednesday, as unseasonal rainy weather was reported in multiple locations across Israel.
Police were at the scenes directing traffic and recommended taking alternative routes.
What's causing the stormy weather?
The remnants of Storm Daniel, a tropical-like cyclone that caused intensive flooding in Libya and Greece, reached Israel on Wednesday, sparking isolated thunderstorms and unseasonably rainy conditions along the coast and in the center of the country.
The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) warned that flooding could occur along the central and southern coast, with a slight chance of flash floods in streams in eastern Israel. The IMS predicted that 50-75 mm. of rain would fall along the coast.
The service noted that while the amount of rain in September in Israel is usually very low, this year an upper-level low-pressure system developed earlier than usual, interacting with a high sea temperature to create a type of cyclone referred to as a “deep depression” with a lot of energy.
“Such a deep system created a change that interrupted the flows typical of the period,” explained the IMS.
When, earlier this week, Storm Daniel was to the west of Israel and rotating counter-clockwise, it brought hot temperatures and haze. On Wednesday, the remnants of the storm reached the country, bringing unseasonal amounts of rain.