Rare summer rains around Israel break all-time August records
Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.
Israel experienced a rare midsummer storm on Saturday that brought heavy rain to Jerusalem and the surrounding area, as well as to the Golan Heights, breaking all-time August rainfall records and causing flooding in parts of the Judean Desert.
Ma’ale Adumim received 26 millimeters (1.02 inches) of rain during the day, including 11 millimeters (0.43 inches) in a single hour. It was the most rain ever recorded in the region for the month of August.
It was only the fourth time since measurements began that more than 20 millimeters of rain were recorded anywhere in Israel during the month of August, the Meteorological Service said. Previous instances occurred in the the Golan Heights in 2012, Kfar Blum in 1971 and Zichron Yaakov in 1920, according to Channel 12’s chief weather forecaster Ilanit Adler.
Jerusalem received about 5 millimeters of rain in a downpour that lasted a few hours. The total precipitation recorded in Jerusalem for July-August was the highest in some 170 years, the Meteorological Service said. Smaller amounts were also recorded in the Golan Heights.
Rain began falling in northern Israel around 3 p.m. before reaching Jerusalem and surrounding areas shortly after. Heavy rainfall continued in the Jerusalem Hills for several hours, with flooding reported in parts of Ma’ale Adumim. Rescue crews were called to assist residents whose homes were affected.
Nahal Og, a stream north of the Dead Sea, flooded in what the Meteorological Service said was the first flood ever recorded there at this time of year. Route 90 near the Dead Sea was temporarily closed due to flooding concerns.
אזור מעלה אדומים pic.twitter.com/vpPnbVbrLs
— 02ws ירושמיים (@YERU02WS) August 15, 2026
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority urges the public to stay out of flowing streams until water levels completely subside and warned against approaching riverbanks amid flooding.
Further rains were expected Sunday, starting early afternoon in the eastern part of the country. Additional heavy rainfall is likely in the Jordan Valley, Judean Desert and Dead Sea areas, possibly breaking further records.
Due to a risk of flooding in these areas, the public is asked to avoid unnecessary travel there.
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
A rare midsummer storm brought heavy rainfall to Israel on Saturday, breaking all-time August records in several areas. Ma’ale Adumim received 26 millimeters of rain, the most ever recorded there for August, with 11 millimeters falling in a single hour. Jerusalem experienced about 5 millimeters of rain, contributing to the highest July-August precipitation in approximately 170 years. The Israel Meteorological Service noted this was only the fourth time since measurements began that over 20 millimeters of rain were recorded anywhere in Israel during August. The unusual weather caused flooding in parts of the Judean Desert, including Nahal Og, which experienced its first recorded August flood, leading to the temporary closure of Route 90. Authorities urged the public to avoid flooded streams and riverbanks, with further heavy rainfall and potential record-breaking expected on Sunday in eastern Israel.
© All rights to the original article belong to the source. Din Online shows a headline, an excerpt and a link only. The objectivity rating is computed automatically and is an estimate only.
Discussion
No comments yet — be the first to comment.