One dead, another missing as storms sweep Israel
One person was killed and another missing on Monday after their car was swept into a flooded river in southern Israel, as the country battled one of the stormiest days of winter so far.
Rescue workers managed to extract two passengers from the flood-swept vehicle, both of them seriously injured. One of the passengers died of his injuries after being taken to the Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
A helicopter was dispatched to the scene in effort to locate the missing man.
Before dawn on Monday, three people - two truck drivers and an 18-year-old - were trapped in their vehicles near the Paran Stream in the Negev.
An Israel Defense Forces helicopter dispatched to the scene managed to pull them out after a few hours.
Traffic was backed up and major highways closed across the south due fear of flooding. Schools have been closed in various communities across the Negev. The Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing between Israel and Jordan was also closed due to the bad weather.
The Nitzana Bridge, north of the Negev, collapsed due to the heavy storms. All traffic in that area has been stopped.
Highways throughout the Negev, including Route 221 and parts of Routes 90 and 40 were also closed to traffic due to the flooding.
Three people died in Egypt as a result of the stormy weather on Monday, as well: A British tourist was killed when a sailboat overturned in the heavy wind on the Nile River. The rain collapsed mudbrick homes in southern Egypt, killing two women.
Meteorologists had predicted Monday to be among the rainiest of the winter, with large quantities expected in the Arava Desert.
Some 12 millimeters of rain had already fallen in Eilat before noon, which is three times the average yearly amount of rain in the city. Between 30-60 cm are expected over the course of the day.
According to the meteorological services company Meteo-Tech, the rain, which was forecast to begin overnight, could amount to between 50 and 100 millimeters.
Rain will fall all day Monday from the Galilee to the Eilat region. The downpour will let up Tuesday and resume on Wednesday, meteorologists say. Snow is expected atop Mt. Hermon.
Two different weather systems are coming into contact with each other, creating conditions for heavy rains and high winds. Hot, humid air moved in from the equatorial region, while cool air has moved in from Turkey, creating unstable weather conditions.
Temperatures will drop drastically, perhaps by as much as 10 degrees Celsius over 24 hours in hilly regions.
In the past two days forecasters have repeatedly warned of possible flash floods in desert river beds and flooding in the main cities. In Eilat, which is expected to see rain equivalent to four years' average fall, special preparations are underway and hiking in the region has been banned.
Water officials are waiting expectantly for the rainfall after several mainly dry weeks. Rivers and streams have dried up somewhat but as a result of a strike by Water Authority employees no current data on the state of the country's reservoirs and aquifers is available.
Rescue workers managed to extract two passengers from the flood-swept vehicle, both of them seriously injured. One of the passengers died of his injuries after being taken to the Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
A helicopter was dispatched to the scene in effort to locate the missing man.
Before dawn on Monday, three people - two truck drivers and an 18-year-old - were trapped in their vehicles near the Paran Stream in the Negev.
An Israel Defense Forces helicopter dispatched to the scene managed to pull them out after a few hours.
Traffic was backed up and major highways closed across the south due fear of flooding. Schools have been closed in various communities across the Negev. The Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing between Israel and Jordan was also closed due to the bad weather.
The Nitzana Bridge, north of the Negev, collapsed due to the heavy storms. All traffic in that area has been stopped.
Highways throughout the Negev, including Route 221 and parts of Routes 90 and 40 were also closed to traffic due to the flooding.
Three people died in Egypt as a result of the stormy weather on Monday, as well: A British tourist was killed when a sailboat overturned in the heavy wind on the Nile River. The rain collapsed mudbrick homes in southern Egypt, killing two women.
Meteorologists had predicted Monday to be among the rainiest of the winter, with large quantities expected in the Arava Desert.
Some 12 millimeters of rain had already fallen in Eilat before noon, which is three times the average yearly amount of rain in the city. Between 30-60 cm are expected over the course of the day.
According to the meteorological services company Meteo-Tech, the rain, which was forecast to begin overnight, could amount to between 50 and 100 millimeters.
Rain will fall all day Monday from the Galilee to the Eilat region. The downpour will let up Tuesday and resume on Wednesday, meteorologists say. Snow is expected atop Mt. Hermon.
Two different weather systems are coming into contact with each other, creating conditions for heavy rains and high winds. Hot, humid air moved in from the equatorial region, while cool air has moved in from Turkey, creating unstable weather conditions.
Temperatures will drop drastically, perhaps by as much as 10 degrees Celsius over 24 hours in hilly regions.
In the past two days forecasters have repeatedly warned of possible flash floods in desert river beds and flooding in the main cities. In Eilat, which is expected to see rain equivalent to four years' average fall, special preparations are underway and hiking in the region has been banned.
Water officials are waiting expectantly for the rainfall after several mainly dry weeks. Rivers and streams have dried up somewhat but as a result of a strike by Water Authority employees no current data on the state of the country's reservoirs and aquifers is available.
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