Last updated in April 12, 2004
2003-2004 season. Click on the small picture to view a large one.
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October 2, 2003
Although it was already autumn, a typical summer weather system, the Persian trough (a part of the Indian monsoon), was affecting our region. But unlike a typical summer day, it was coupled with a deep and cold 500mb trough. Add the very warm temperature of the Mediterranean Sea, relatively warm surface temperatures and a very high tropopause, and the result was numerous severe thunderstorms in Lebanon, Syria, northern Jordan and northern Israel. A supercell dumped 64 mm of rain in 30 minutes (a rate of 128 mm/hour) over Kibbutz Dafna in the northern Hula Valley, which is a new record for Israel, along with 100 kph winds.
14:50
Cumulus congestus cells, which within 20 minutes developed into a multicell cumulonimbus. Photographs courtesy of Tal from Kiryat Tivon. Looking E from Kiryat Tivon.
15:30
In a short while a line of thunderstorms has developed over the Jordan River Valley (Bikaa), Moav mountains of Jordan and Hula valley. The storm on the right (south) side of this panoramic view (courtesy of Tal from Kiryat Tivon) is a supercell which lasted for several hours. Looking E from Kiryat Tivon.
15:45
The storm on the left (north) side of the panoramic view above, as seen from Yokneam. Photograph courtesy of Avraham Levkovitch. Looking E from Yokneam.
16:20
Another thunderstorm over the Bikaa. Photograph courtesy of Tal Shamai. Looking E from Ariel.
October 17, 2003
17:00
Two thunderstorms with distinct overshooting tops. These storms were in fact in eastern Jordan, some 250 kilometers away! Looking E from Jerusalem.
November 5, 2003
16:35
Beautiful middle/high cloud formation. Looking SE from Mevaseret.
November 8 - November 12, 2003
The first winter low (Cyprus low) affected Israel between November 8 and 12. Some areas, especially in northern Israel, received up to 80 mm of rain. The system was accompanied by many thunderstorms.
November 8, 2003
09:30
Cumulonimbus and towering cumulus over the Mediterranean Sea. Photograph courtesy of Shalom Zeelfreund. Looking W from Haifa.
11:00
Cloudburst of rain. Photograph courtesy of Shalom Zeelfreund. Looking W from Haifa.
12:00
Cloudburst of rain. The rain was accompanied by lightning and thunder. Photograph courtesy of Eyal Porat. Looking E from Karcom near the Sea of Galilee.
16:15
Awesome thunderstorm lit by the setting sun. Photograph courtesy of Eyal Porat. Looking NW from Karcom near the Sea of Galilee.
16:35
Cumulus congestus in the sunset. Looking E over Jerusalem.
November 9, 2003
12:30
Waterspout over the Mediterranean Sea near the coastline. Photograph courtesy of Shalom Zeelfreund. Looking W from Haifa.
November 10, 2003
07:00
Mammatus under a cumulonimbus anvil. Photograph courtesy of Doron D. Looking W from Modiin.
November 24, 2003
A Red Sea trough was the cause of severe thunderstorms in eastern Israel.
06:30
The aftermath of a severe thunderstorm in Afikim, south of the Sea of Galilee. Hail of up to 4 cm in diameter was measured. Photographs courtesy of Amir Porat.
November 26, 2003
12:25
Towering cumulus with crepuscular rays. Looking W from Mevaseret.
February 14-15, 2004 Winter Storm
A winter storm hit the Middle East and heavy snow fell in the mountains of northern and central Israel above 600 meters. The snow started in the early noon of February 14 in northern Israel and around 14:30 in central Israel. By late morning of February 15 the snowfall had ended or turned to light rain. In the northern Golan Heights accumulation was up to 55 centimeters (22 inches). In the Judean Mountains of central Israel the snow accumulated up to 25 centimeters (10 inches). In Jerusalem itself accumulation was between 10 to 18 centimeters.
February 14, 2004
16:10
Not long after the snow started to fall in the Judean Mountains, it turned heavy with blizzard conditions. Photographs taken in Mevasseret.
19:00
Snow in Jerusalem. Photograph courtesy of Assaf Atar.
February 15, 2004
06:52
Snow in my backyard, Mevasseret.
08:02
Snow scenery. Looking WNW from Mevaseret towards Har Adar.
08:40
Chukar Patridge in Kisalon valley, between Mevasseret and Har Adar.
09:04
A frozen stream in Kisalon valley, between Mevasseret and Har Adar.
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