Snow began to blanket Israel's North and Jerusalem on Thursday, while residents anticipated greater accumulations. Snow already started to fall in the Golan Heights in the morning, and was expected to begin falling over the northern and central mountains, by evening, the Israel Meteorological Service said on Thursday afternoon. On Friday morning, snow is expected to continue falling in the same areas as overnight, and will accumulate only in places located at 500 meters altitude and above, the IMS said. By nightfall Friday, the snow is set to stop completely.
Rains poured over northern and central Israel throughout the day Thursday accompanied by heavy winds. With the constant heavy rains, Lake Kinneret experienced a rise of 1.5 centimeters just from Thursday morning to Thursday evening – and a total of 4 centimeter's since the storms beginning – reaching 212.35 meters below sea level, the Water Authority said. Rains were set to continue through Saturday, eventually diminishing by evening, according to the IMS.
On both Friday and Saturday, the IMS warned of extremely cold temperatures and potential ice formation on roads. The Education Ministry announced the cancellation of classes Friday throughout Jerusalem and the Northern and Southern districts. School closures were announced in Jerusalem, and its outskirts including Ma'ale Adumim, Kiryat Yearim, Beit El, Kiryat Arba and Givat Ze'ev. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem also announced its campuses would remain closed on Friday.
In the North, Safed, the Marom Galilee Regional Council as well as Daliat Al Karmel and Ossafia, on the outskirts of Haifa announced school cancelations on Friday. The University of Haifa also cancelled classes for fear that the entrance to the university would be blocked by possible snow. In the South, schools were closed in Al Kassam Regional Council, Neve Midbar, Tamar Regional Council, Arad, Meitar and South Har Hebron for fear of flooding.
Michal Cohen, director-general of the Education Ministry, instructed the educational system to prepare for the stormy weather. As part of its efforts, the ministry opened operation rooms in Jerusalem districts on Thursday to closely monitor developments and respond as required. In addition, the ministry canceled all school trips Thursday through Friday to areas expecting snow or flooding. The ministry is also operating a telephone hotline for the public with information on school closures (1-800- 250025).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a meeting with various relevant officials at the Border Police Headquarters in Lod on Thursday, in order to assess the country’s readiness for the incoming winter mess. In addition to the prime minister, among those in attendance were Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, National Police Chief Yochanan Danino, Israel Electric Corporation CEO Eli Glickman, Magen David Adom director-general Eli ben and representatives of other ministries and emergency services. "Instructions are, first of all, to save lives, before anything else, to prevent loss of life,” Netanyahu said. “The second instruction is – to the best of our ability – to see to the orderly supply of electricity." In the capital city, the Jerusalem municipality prepared 230 snow plows, salt dispensers, and engineering equipment, as well as 4x4 vehicles that can handle the snow, a statement from the city said. Aside from the equipment, the municipality said it has also procured 1,500 sacks of salt, which are being distributed at community centers, in neighborhoods and at 500 educational institutions across the city.
“Snow requires municipal preparedness and personal responsibility by all residents,” Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in a Wednesday night statement. “We call on all residents to prepare for the snow, bring forward preparations, show responsibility, and listen to the instructions of the Municipality and Rescue Services.” The Palestinian Authority also formed several “central operation rooms” in the West Bank on Thursday to deal with the snowstorm. The PA also urged Palestinians to remain indoors and avoid using driving their vehicles in the snow. Municipality and Civil Defense workers were put on high alert and hospitals beefed up their medical staff in anticipation of the snowstorm. The PA said that its emergency teams were also ready to open all major roads that could be blocked by the snow.
Ben Hartman contributed to this report.
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