Overnight snowfall covered the capital, northern Israel and hilly areas in Judea and Samaria overnight and throughout much of the day.
By Erin Viner
The snow piled up to a height of about 20 centimeters (8 inches), Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion told Israel Army Radio this morning.
210 snow ploughs worked to clear Jerusalem city streets throughout the night, as highways and roads into Jerusalem were closed to all vehicles as soon as the rare heavy snowfall began.
Travel into Jerusalem was possible only by train today as all public transportation other than the city’s light rail was suspended, as the municipality worked to clear fallen trees and other debris.
Worshippers had to carefully make their way through slippery paths to reach the holy sites in Jerusalem’s walled Old City, including the snow-capped Western Wall and al Aqsa Mosque complex on the Temple Mount.
Children in the affected areas enjoyed a rare “snow day” off from schools, which were closed. Many flocked to the streets to enjoy watching the falling flurries, build snowmen and throw snowballs at one another.
Sadly, reports circulated on social media warning residents that Arab youth in Jerusalem gathered at the Armon HaNatsiv Promenade to hurl rock-packed snowballs as passing vehicles.
As temperatures are forecast to rise the snow will be replaced by rain as part of the Elpis winter storm. Powerful winds and heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the country, amid flood warnings in the coastal areas and eastern desert region.
The chilly wet weather front is expected to subside slowly and pass by tomorrow night.
Before arriving in Jerusalem, the winter storm swept through the Mediterranean region, from Greece across Turkey and into Syria.