A cold weather front moved into the region last night bringing rain to many parts of the North. The rain is expected to strengthen during the course of the day, turning to snow on the Hermon, the Golan, and Galilee peaks. Safed put its maintenance crews on snow alert, and the Public Works Department was also reported to be on standby to clear main access roads in the Galilee and on the Golan in case of snow. The Meteorological Service reported that moderate snow could be expected in the North, with lighter falls in central parts of the country, including Jerusalem.
Heavy rain is forecast for other parts of the country, with the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.
The rain is expected to continue through tomorrow. The rain should end on Thursday, with a rise in temperatures on Friday. The rain is being welcomed by water experts who noted that precipitation around Lake Kinneret has only reached just over two-thirds of the yearly average. Mekorot officials are still concerned about the level of water in the coastal and mountain aquifers and have warned that the red lines are likely to be breached again by the end of the summer even if March proves exceptionally wet. The government has set April 1 as the date for making a decision about water resources for the coming decade, including whether to use desalination, or rely on importing water from abroad.