Prof. Haim Kutiel of the University of Haifa says that in addition to worsening climate conditions around the world, congested construction in Israel is contributing to the formation of severe flooding

The strong rainy days that passed on Israel this past week and led to flooding, in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nahariya, came after a relatively long period of dryness at the beginning of the winter. This is a relatively common phenomenon in Israel in recent years: on the one hand, winter dry periods and summer highs, and on the other, more severe rain events. Weather experts explain whether this is the process of climate change in Israel as part of the greenhouse effect or is it just a coincidence and there is no cause for concern.

Already updated on our weather page? To view the temperatures in your locality click here

Huge flooding in Nahariya // Photo: Nahariya Municipality, police spokeswoman

Prof. Haim Kutiel, a weather and climate change expert at the University of Haifa, explains that the floods this past winter are a combination of climate mitigation on Earth because of the greenhouse effect and dense construction in cities that does not allow rainwater to drain and absorb into the soil.

"Indeed, in recent years Israel has seen the reality of dry periods and high temperatures in the summer and winter and also see more severe and severe rain events," says Prof. Kothiel. "This is a widespread phenomenon occurring all over the world, such as the fires in Australia, the Amazon and the Scandinavian countries, fires have started suddenly. On the other hand, there are more powerful hurricanes. Everything happens because the heat causes more energy in the atmosphere that produces more extreme events.

Australia fires // Photo: GettyImages

"But in Israel the problem is not only in the weather itself, but also in our cities, especially the old cities. There have been floods in southern Tel Aviv, in the lower city of Carmel, in Nahariya on Gaaton Avenue and places of this kind that are older. What happens here does not happen in northern Tel Aviv or in intelligence. When the weather is diminishing more precipitation and the old cities have a lot of concrete without good drainage and all the water just flows and floods, this problem is more in the old places in the country where water absorption capabilities need to be upgraded. Air - and the result is flooding, but it should be noted that flooding occurs in areas They sleep in the country. So there is also the extremes of weather, but not only, poor human planning also helps. "

Elad Zohar, News forecaster 13, explains that in Israel and the world there have been extreme weather phenomena throughout history. "First, there were severe floods and winters in the country in the 1930s, so in the Tiberias area there were floods with fatalities, and it was a harsh winter in the 1950s as well. We all also remember the winter of '92 and the big snow event in Jerusalem in 2013.

Photo: Reuters

"These phenomena alone do not necessarily have to do with weather changes. In Israel and the world there are occasional extreme events. Now, there were at once two unusual rain waves, which came in great proximity and the earth could not absorb them. Of course, the climate will have an effect on Israel and nights will be in Israel. And on the warmer days in the summer, we already see this tangible and factual, and the meteorological service estimates that the amount of rainfall will decrease by one-third in the north by the end of the century and intensify on the coastal and southern plains. This winter, however, does not show this, but it is important to know that it is an assessment of the meteorological service and not determination It will be a climate change but it is not necessarily related to what is happening Here in the winter.

"However, once you have more population then statistically the chances of flooding, injury and loss of mind are higher. You have more people in one space cell and this causes the risk of the incident to intensify. As far as the climate and climate change are concerned, lessons have to be learned and upgraded every time After the heavy snowfall in Jerusalem in 2013, lessons were learned and cooperation between the Interior Ministry, the municipality and the military realized that snow is not only a beautiful thing but also dangerous. In countries that are likely to flood strong brown builders and then the problem is solved. The floods will be learned lessons, and now the mayor of Nahariya has called for diverting the Ga'aton stream from the middle of the city and Noth its route. So, in the future, although there will be exceptions to these events from time to time but they will be felt less ".

Florentine floods last weekend // Photo: Ina Fredo

At the end of his remarks, Zohar also asked the public to ask him to listen only to the competent predictors. "Unfortunately, in the age of social networking, there is a lot of information about the weather, which includes intimidations and messages from enthusiasts who may be good but they do not understand the media and often stress the public or cause difficulties for competent authorities to understand. Guidelines and warnings are only received from qualified officials who know what and how to say And take all the considerations into account. It is imperative to check who is signing the message and behind it. Forecasts are received from an official body because there they know how to take from the information blend what is needed. "