Rain Has Fallen, But Will It Be Enough?

February 23, 2018

by: Janet Aslin

Friday, 23 February 2018 | Meteorologists have wavered back and forth about whether or not to call the winter of 2017-18 a continuation of the drought Israel has experienced over the four previous years. December was abnormally dry but the month January produced a fair amount of precipitation. This resulted in a cautious pronouncement in late January from Water Minister Yuval Steinitz, “The large quantity of rain that has fallen in the past few days brings us to 90% of the annual average for the season, and enables us to avoid declaring a drought year, at least for the time being” (Globes).

Currently the water level in the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is 0.7m (2.3 ft) below the Lower Red Line and 1.17m (3.84 ft) above the Black Line. This is good news when compared with the level in early December which was a mere 5.08cm (2 in) above the Black Line! However, in his earlier report, Steinitz went on to say that, even with January’s rainfall, “this summer the Kinneret is still expected to drop below the Black Line, for the first time ever.” The Black Line is the historic low point of the Kinneret, the point at which pumps are exposed and it becomes physically impossible to take water from the lake.

With these indicators in mind, all agreed that we were not out of the woods yet and much was dependent on February’s rainfall. The first part of February was unseasonably warm and dry. However, last weekend the country was blessed with a winter storm with heavy rainfall that began on Friday evening (February 16) and continued through the next day. Jerusalem received 42 millimeters (1.65 in) over the two days while similar amounts fell in the coastal and northern regions.

Typically December, January and February are the rainiest months in Israel so we might expect the possibility of rain to be nearly over. Taking a look at the two-week forecast, however, there is an encouraging possibility of rainfall, especially next first week. We can also take comfort from knowing that the “latter rain” can fall in March and April. We are still expecting a season of rain.

Posted on February 23, 2018

Source: (Bridges for Peace, 23 February 2018)

Photo Credit: Diego Torres/pixabay.com