Winter 2020 recorded highs of rainfall over the past month • There were only three days without rain in January, and temperatures were lower than average in most regions of the country.

Last January was not only particularly cold, but also this month with a rainfall of 1.5 to 2 times greater than the average, according to the meteorological service. The heavy rains that resulted in many floods backed the deaths of five people.

Flooding in Florentine neighborhood // Photo: Ina Fredo

"The largest amounts of rain fell in the northern coastal plain, the Western Galilee and the Carmel coastal area and Ramot Menashe, measuring 330 to 400 mm or more - 2 to 2.5 times the average for January. Other areas of rain were in southern Gush Dan and in the Nitzan area, "the service said.

The quantities that have fallen in the northern valleys are more than twice the average in January. In the Central and Southern Coastal Plains, too, they fell 2 to 2.5 times the average per month.

Significant rain will arrive in the afternoon // Photo: Joshua Yosef

In the southern region, smaller amounts of rain were recorded, but they were also significantly above average. In the northwest of the Negev and in the Gaza Strip, for example, they fell 150 to 200 mm - close to 2 times the average. In the northern Negev, they dropped 50 to 100 mm, which are also about twice the average per month.

Compared to the past, it is mainly the coastal and northern valleys, which is one of the rainiest January since the beginning of the survey, from about 75 to 80 years ago, and is ranked second or third. In most areas, January 1974 was more rainy and in some 1969 more rainfall was recorded.

Rescuing civilians at Givati ​​Moshav in the lowlands // Photo: Firefighters and rescue

The meteorological service reports that during January 2020 there were only three days without rain, and some northern stations had 24 to 25 rain days.

Also, in most parts of the country, the accumulated rainfall from the beginning of the season exceeds the average. According to the meteorological service, "With regard to the rainfall that fell compared with the perennial average for each rainy season, it can be noted that on average around the country, so far, about 90 percent of the rainfall per season has fallen - during this period about 60 percent of the rainy season is expected. The average annual quantity and more, including stations on the northern coastal plain, Carmel Coast, Ramot Menashe, some of the stations on the central and southern coastal plain and the Northern Hula Valley. "

Intense flow in streams in the north and south // Photo: Nature and Parks Authority

In terms of temperatures, last January was cooler than average in most areas. "During the daytime temperatures were lower than the average of 1.5 to 2 mph in the mountains and inland, and 1 to 1.5 mph in the coastal plain," the service said. "In the Arava the temperatures were close to or slightly below average. During the night the temperatures in the central mountains were below the average of about 1 m. In the south as well as in the northern mountains they were close to the average and on the coastal plain, in the lowlands and in the northern valleys they were higher than average by 0.5 to 1 m. This was due to the multitude of rain and clouding events, which prevented the radiant cooling in many of the nights during the month. Temperatures have risen and been close to average. "