Meteorologists studying climate change in Israel have noted a sharp increase in extreme precipitation events. Rains, which were previously considered rare and occurred once every hundred years, were repeated again and again this year. They went to different parts of the country. Sometimes almost simultaneously.

Thus, on the morning of November 25, 25.7 millimeters of precipitation fell in Kfar Hasidim in ten minutes. This is the annual norm for the Arava and the Dead Sea area. Twenty minutes later, at Kibbutz Netiv ha-ha-Lamed Hey, more than a hundred kilometers away, 28.1 millimeters fell in ten minutes. This is a record for this area, which significantly exceeded the previous maximum.

On January 18, heavy rain was again recorded in Kfar Hasidim. In ten minutes, 15 millimeters fell. There were many more similar cases throughout the year. In November, stations across the country recorded abnormal readings. In Hadera, 21 millimeters fell in ten minutes.

The Israel Meteorological Service reports that extreme rainfall has been recorded more frequently in recent years. We are talking about an intensity that has not previously been encountered in historical data. The service says growth is around 40% for short periods of time. This is especially noticeable for rare events with a probability of 1–2%.

The head of the Meteorological Service, Dr. Amir Gevati, notes that according to climate models, this trend will continue. Moreover, it may intensify in the coming years. This primarily applies to areas near the Mediterranean Sea. We are talking about the coastal plain and Shfele.

The 2025/26 rainy season started earlier than usual. Already in September, heavy precipitation occurred in the north of the coast and in Western Galilee. October and November were generally warmer and drier than normal. However, in November there were several short but very powerful showers. They led to flooding.

The morning of November 25, 2025 was especially memorable. At this time, rare rains occurred almost simultaneously in different parts of the country. They affected Shfela, Samaria, the Binyamin region, Haifa Bay, the Western Galilee and even the northern Negev.

The highest hourly rate this season was recorded on September 25 in Nahariya. 74 millimeters of precipitation fell in an hour. Such values ​​have only been observed a few times in Israel. They have never been recorded in Nahariya, and especially in September.

High hourly values ​​were measured in other places. In Kfar Hasidim, 68 millimeters fell in an hour. In Ashkelon – 65 millimeters in one hour. Based on data up to 2024, such indicators were considered events with a probability of only 1%. This year they were repeated several times. Sometimes – simultaneously in different areas.

Meteorologists remind that the most dangerous floods occur during heavy rainfall lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Such downpours cause damage and can be life threatening. Therefore, monitoring this trend is key. The Met Office will continue to monitor increases in extreme rainfall and issue risk warnings.

Previously, Cursor wrote what the weather would be like in Israel at the end of the week.