Israel News
Rain in the Height of Summer: Is El Niño to Blame?
The weather forecast calls for possible local rain beginning tomorrow and continuing through the weekend, mainly inland. Climate scientists in the West say the high temperatures affecting Europe and Africa, alongside major rainstorms elsewhere, stem from the phenomenon known as El Niño.
- שלומי דיאז
- | Updated
(Archive photo: David Cohen, Flash90)A surprising turn in the weather. Forecasters said that today (Thursday) will bring a slight drop in temperatures, especially in the mountains and inland areas. It will still be hotter than usual for the season and humid along the coastal plain, with heavy to extreme heat stress continuing across most of the country. <\/p>
Tomorrow, Friday, however, temperatures will drop further, bringing some relief from the heat. Local rain is possible inland during the afternoon, raising a slight concern about flash flooding in the eastern streams.<\/p>
On Shabbat, skies will range from partly cloudy to clear, with seasonable temperatures. Brief local rain is possible during the afternoon in northern Israel, along the coast, and inland, again raising a slight concern about flooding in the eastern streams. This pattern is expected to continue into the beginning of next week, with isolated thunderstorms possible בעיקר in northern and eastern Israel.<\/p>
According to professional assessments and reports in Israel, the unusual and heavy rain expected this August weekend is being attributed to the effects of the “Super El Niño” climate phenomenon, which disrupts weather patterns around the world and creates conditions for out-of-season weather systems.<\/p>
The phenomenon has also drawn attention in the West in a global context. According to a report in The New York Times, the climate phenomenon known as “El Niño” is currently driving volatile, and often extreme, weather in several parts of the world. It is causing temperatures to rise worldwide, along with severe droughts in Africa and India. At the same time, broad areas of Central and South America have experienced a significant storm and a cold spell unlike any seen there in several years.<\/p>
Zeke Hausfather, a senior climate scientist, said in The New York Times report that the peak is still ahead: “What we see in 2027 will be a preview of what will be the new normal in 2035. We will see things that have never happened in our history.”<\/p><\/p>
