Israel - Climate

Climate

In comparison to its size, Israel has a wide range of climate and weather, from temperate to tropical. The main difference is between the northern part of the country and the Negev in the South.

The northern part of the country has a typical Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunshine - long, hot, dry summers and mild wet winters. Summer is from mid-April to October. In the coastal areas, the heat can be humid and oppressive, with temperatures rising to over 30 °C. In the afternoon, sea breezes help to moderate the heat. Winter lasts from November to February.

Rain can be very heavy at times, with about three-quarters of the annual rainfall expected during the months of December, January and February. Galilee is the wettest region, receiving over 1,000 mm (40 inches) of rain a year. Winters are generally mild, with plenty of periodic sunshine. Frost and snow are very rare, except in the hill regions.

The Negev receives very little rain, ranging from about 200mm a year in the north to as little as 50mm in Eilat. From time to time, there are thunderstorms in this region, these result in flash floods. By contrast, summer temperatures in the Negev soar to over 34 °C in Beersheba and 40 °C in Eilat.

The Sharav or Khamsin, is a scorchingly hot, dry desert wind which blows from the Arabian Desert from May to mid-June and from September to October. It last for two to five days at a time.