Roads blocked in South as floods, heavy rains surprise Israel

Wednesday saw rain at intervals along with thunderstorms all across the country, and snow fell on the Hermon.

Temperatures were expected to continue to fall colder than usual for the season.

The Mount Hermon site will be closed to visitors on Wednesday and Thursday because of heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures.

Floods impact travel in the south

Roads down south were closed as a result of extreme flooding, heavily impacting freedom of movement to and from Eilat. 

Highway 90 was closed off from Arava junction to the Menucha junction and the police asked drivers to stop driving on the route, enter a settlement or a gas station and wait for the route to reopen. Highway 40 was closed from Tzihor junction to Mitzpe Ramon in both directions.

The entrances to Eilat through Highways 90 and 12 were closed and the Egged bus company announced that its lines to and from Eilat were suspended until the roads were reopened.

Israel Police announced on Wednesday evening that operations are being conducted to evacuate and open the blocked roads, with the expectation that the operations would finish by the early hours of Thursday morning.

In the Gush Dan area, the Health Ministry warned the public not to bathe on the beaches of Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and Herzliya, after the runoff water of the heavy rains mixed with sewage and discharged into the sea.

Floods in Israel's Arava region. (Roi Galili)

Rain is expected to continue on Thursday with a chance of storms. In the afternoon, the rain is expected to lighten while temperatures remain colder than normal.

Friday's weather is forecasted to be calmer with a slight rise in temperatures.