Weather It Is (Winter Continues)

It's a bit strange writing a header that says: "winter continues."  However, when I was a child (or more accurately: prior to my "Aliyah) there used to be winter every year.  However, one should keep in mind our forefathers had to leave Eretz Israel because of drought, and Joseph forecast a seven year drought (or at least a seven year cycle of wet and dry weather).  One should also take note that the global rise in temperatures (most likely associated with greenhouse gases) is extenuating any periodicity in the drought cycle.

Fortunately, the government has finally invested in desalination plants so we have (Thank God) enough water to pass the dry (rainy) season.

Yet, this winter is what we would consider normal.  It's sort-of-cold (although not today) and its frequently wet (known as "rainy").  There is an area of high pressure located at the lower levels of the atmosphere, situated on the western side of an upper level trough.  This is funneling cold air southward. There is also a fairly active southern jet stream leading storms frequently along the southern boundary of the northern trough.

Fortunately, no change in the general weather pattern is seen.  The question is: how much of the cold air will be drawn into these frequently passing systems.  Early this week, there was enough cold air for a change over to wet snow/graupel in central Israel, and snow at the higher elevations, but the next storm late this week looks to be not quite as cold (stay tuned).  Still, next week may bring a greater likelihood of frozen precipitation.

Barry Lynn