Heavy storm descends upon Israel

Heavy rains and strong winds were felt across Israel Tuesday and Wednesday as a heavy storm reached the country.

The cold northern front set in Tuesday evening and continued Wednesday, with snow and sleet falling in the north of Galilee and the Golan Heights with additional snow expected in Jerusalem, along with heavy rains and winds across central Israel.

Israeli authorities prepared in advance for the cold front, having learnt their lesson from a previous storm last year, in which heavy snow fell in Jerusalem causing the city to shut down for several days.

Authorities shut down highways leading to Jerusalem Wednesday and the north-south highway connecting Jerusalem with the West Bank. The Jerusalem municipality as well as several municipalities in the north announced there would be no school on Wednesday.

Heavy rains poured in central Israel along with thunderstorms and winds reaching a maximum of 90 km/h (59 miles per hour) causing trees and power lines to drop, and flooding in several areas.

According to Ynet news, in Tel Aviv alone there were reports of 47 fallen trees, 12 fallen traffic lights, and 15 street signs. In Petah Tikva, a city close to Tel Aviv in central Israel, a tree fell on a bus. No injuries were reported. Power cables were reportedly torn apart in Haifa, reported the Times of Israel.

According to the Electric Company, 17,000 houses were without power as of Wednesday.

The storm is expected to last until the weekend, with snow in the north and over high locations in central Israel, though at fewer volumes. Authorities are worried that floods may lead to the overflowing of streams in central and southern Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also took part in preparation for the storm, sending tanks to high posts in northern Israel which may become isolated due to heavy snow. Nearly 1,000 soldiers were deployed to help residents face the storm in the north and in Jerusalem, reported Ynet.

During last year's storm, vast areas were isolated without electricity, water or access to roads for several days.

Israel has to face colder weather than normal recently, and infrastructure in the country is not designed for heavy storms and similar weather conditions, forcing authorities to take preemptive measures to endure the storm.

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