Full Breakdown
Mid-August Storm Breaks Rainfall Records and Triggers Floods Across Israel
8/16/2026, 5:58:16 AM
Core Event
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, a rare midsummer thunderstorm swept eastern Israel, producing a funnel cloud in the Golan Heights, heavy rain over Jerusalem and the Judean Desert, and the first documented summer flood in the Nahal Og stream. The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) issued thunderstorm, flash-flood and coastal-plain warnings that remained in effect through the evening. Highway 90 was closed for over an hour after floodwaters inundated the road.
Background & Context
Summer precipitation in Israel is usually limited to brief drizzle along the coastal plain, occurring roughly once every two years. Measurable rain inland is rarer, averaging once every five to ten years, while double-digit totals in Jerusalem and the Dead Sea region are “extremely rare.” Meteorologists linked the unusual weather to the “Super El Niño” phenomenon, a Pacific-origin climate event that began earlier in the year and is expected to peak later in 2026, altering atmospheric moisture flows across the Northern Hemisphere.
Timeline
- Early Saturday – IMS released yellow thunderstorm warnings for the northern mountains, central highlands, Jordan Valley, Judean Desert, Dead Sea region, northeastern Negev and northern Arava.
- ? 3 p.m. – Rain began in northern Israel and quickly spread to Jerusalem and surrounding hills.
- Afternoon – A funnel cloud was observed in the Golan Heights, with gusts forecast up to 42 kph.
- Hour of record – The Ma’ale Adumim IMS station measured 11 mm of rain in one hour, the highest August total on record for that location; the cumulative total later reached 15 mm.
- Later afternoon – Nahal Og, north of the Dead Sea, experienced flowing water for the first time ever recorded at this time of year.
- Evening – Flash-flood warnings covered the Dead Sea region and northeastern Negev; Highway 90 was closed for more than an hour.
- Night – A separate warning prohibited swimming along the coastal plain due to waves up to 120 cm.
Data & Statistics
- Rainfall: 11 mm in one hour at Ma’ale Adumim (record); total 15 mm later.
- Wind: Gusts up to 42 kph forecast for the Golan Heights.
- Wave height: Coastal-plain waves reached 120 cm.
- Rescues: Residents were rescued from flood-affected streets in Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim; assistance was dispatched to the Og stream area.
Official Statements & Responses
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority officials instructed the public to avoid entering flowing stream channels until water levels receded.
- Arava Rescue Unit advised observers to view floods only from high, safe locations.
- Police announced deployments to flood-prone riverbeds in eastern Israel and urged residents to stay away from hazardous areas.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local media showed footage of the funnel cloud appearing to touch the ground among the Golan’s northern hills. Video from Jerusalem captured intense rainfall over the city’s hills, while residents in Ma’ale Adumim reported water entering streets and homes, prompting emergency crews to assist. Highway 90’s temporary closure disrupted traffic for over an hour as floodwaters filled the roadway.
What’s Next
IMS forecasts additional rain for eastern Israel beginning Sunday afternoon, with temperatures expected to drop toward seasonal averages early next week. Light drizzle may affect northern Israel and the coastal plain in the mornings, while isolated thunderstorms remain possible in the eastern and mountainous regions. Heat-stress warnings continue through the weekend, though officials anticipate relief as temperatures moderate.
