Central Israel experiences rainiest November in 20 years

Some parts of the northern Negev have received more than half of average annual rainfall.

By BEN HARTMAN
Rain in Jerusalem (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Rain in Jerusalem
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
The rainstorms that hit Israel on Wednesday continued across the country Thursday, with especially heavy rainfall of 80-110 mm. in the lower Shfela region and the Judean Mountains.
The Israel Meteorological Society said that since the end of September there has been three times the annual rainfall in those two regions.
Parts of them have already received half their total typical rainy season average, before the beginning of December.
In Negba in the northern Negev, 268 mm. of rain has been measured, as opposed to an average of 95 mm. from September to December. The total is well over half the average yearly total of 493 mm. for the entire rainy season.
Though the rainy weather continued in swaths of the country on Thursday, the sun shone for much of the day in Tel Aviv. The Israel Meteorological Society said Wednesday that there has been more rain in central Israel this November than in any rainy season in the past 20 years.
Earlier on Thursday, Judea and Samaria police said they plan to question two Jerusalem men in their 20s,  after they were rescued in the early hours of the morning from a flooded creek bed to which they had traveled, despite police warnings to the public.
The two men were rescued following hours of rescue efforts by police, Border Police, IDF and volunteer search and rescue units. In the afternoon they began hiking from the area of Mitzpe Jericho to Wadi Og northwest of the Dead Sea, without notifying authorities.
Judea and Samaria Police commander Kobi Cohen said, that while he was pleased the men were rescued, their act showed great irresponsibility.
He repeated police calls made earlier this week to avoid traveling to areas where flash floods have been reported and not to drive on washed-out roads.