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Israel's Winter Veil

An exploration of rare and impactful snowfall events across the nation.

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Snowfall in Israel: A Rare Phenomenon

Elevated Occurrences

Snowfall in Israel is an infrequent occurrence, primarily observed in the higher elevations of the northern regions and the Jerusalem District. These areas possess the necessary altitude for snow to accumulate, transforming the landscape into a temporary winter scene.

Coastal & Desert Absence

Conversely, the Israeli Mediterranean coastal plain and the vicinity of the Dead Sea have not experienced significant snow accumulation since the notable events of 1950. Snowfall is virtually unknown in the southernmost areas, such as Eilat, situated in the arid Negev desert.

Historical Snowfall Events

The Landmark 1950 Event

The winter of 1950 witnessed one of the most significant snowfall periods recorded in Israel's meteorological history. In January and February 1950, Jerusalem experienced its largest snowfall since measurements began in 1870.

The event unfolded in stages:

  • Early January 1950: A hailstorm struck Tel Aviv, accompanied by light snow in the Upper Galilee and Jerusalem mountains.
  • January 27-30: Snow fell across northern mountains and Jerusalem, melting quickly. Haifa received 15 cm of snow on January 28th, with brief snowfall also noted in Tel Aviv. By January 29th, Haifa was blanketed again.
  • February 6-7: A major cold front brought heavy snow nationwide. Depths reached 60 cm in Safed, an extraordinary 100 cm in Jerusalem, 17 cm in Haifa, and 12โ€“19 cm in Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Lod. Snow also fell in Petah Tikva, Netanya, Samaria, Rishon Lezion, the mountains surrounding the Sea of Galilee, and parts of the Negev.
  • February 8: Snow was reported near the Dead Sea, with an accumulation of 8 cm.

The 1934 Glimpse

While detailed textual records for 1934 are sparse in the source material, an image depicts a child with a snowman in Jerusalem, offering a visual testament to a snowfall event around that approximate year. This serves as a poignant reminder of winter's occasional presence even in earlier decades.

The 2013 Cold Snap

In December 2013, a significant cold snap brought substantial snowfall to Israel, causing widespread disruption and highlighting the country's vulnerability to extreme winter weather.

The event on December 13, 2013, resulted in:

  • Significant Accumulation: Jerusalem received 40โ€“70 cm of snow, while the Kefar Etzion area recorded approximately 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches).
  • Infrastructure Impact: Heavy rains accompanying the snow caused widespread flooding. Roads were closed due to deep snow and flooding, leading to abandoned vehicles. Ben Gurion Airport temporarily shut down, impacting air travel.
  • Diplomatic Disruption: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was forced to cut short a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to return to Israel before transportation routes became impassable.
  • Isolation: Jerusalem was effectively cut off from the rest of the country for 48 hours due to the severe conditions.

References

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Snow in Israel Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. The content is derived from a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not reflect the most current information or provide exhaustive detail.

This is not a weather forecast or meteorological advice. The information presented here is based on historical events and should not be used for predicting current or future weather conditions. For real-time weather information and forecasts, please consult official meteorological services.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. Always consult official sources for accurate and up-to-date information.