After fires, heavy rainfall brings flooding to central Israel

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JTA – Heavy rainfall in Israel’s north and center ended dry weather conditions that had helped spread fires throughout the country.

The downpour Dec. 1, the first this winter, caused the Yarkon River to overflow, flooding the Mekorot Hayarkon Park near Rosh Hain some 15 miles east of Tel Aviv.

The water level in the Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee, rose by 1.5 inches in the 24 hours that preceded the morning of Dec. 1. In total, the north saw 2.7 inches of rainfall and the center had 3.1 inches, Army Radio reported.

The rainfall ended a 10-day stretch during which Israel saw at least 100 fires that ravaged the north and the Jerusalem area, leading to the evacuation of 100,000 people and tens of millions of dollars in property damage.

Many countries, including the United States, sent firefighting teams and equipment to help put out the fires.

Mount Hermon, with its ski resort at the northern tip of the Golan Heights, received 5.9 inches of rain and snow.