Jerusalem expects snow

I've looked at three weather-forcast sites and at yenet.co.il's forecast. None predict snow in Jerusalem tomorrow. Nevertheless, my Facebook feed has told me of three community centers that have postponed tomorrow's events because of snow.

Today it was 50 degrees Fahrenheit with bright sunshine.

The Jerusalem municipality has posted advice for dealing with snow ("Stay off the roads. Lay in a supply of food and water. Have a way to heat your home without electricity." That last one is impossible for most of us.)

The prediction is for a low of 35 degrees fahrenheit.

Go figure.

Copyright 2019 J. S. Fox

No snow but no electricity

In a condo, where each apartment has a separate meter at just this side of the sidewalk, I suppose I can strectch my mind to understand half the bulding being without electricity while the other half has heat and light. But how could the neighbors upstairs have electricity in half their condo while the other half has none?

Why, when snow did not fall in Jerusalem, any of us were without, is another question. OK. It has been very cold, we all heat with electricity, and Israel hit an all-time high for electricity use. Whatever.

We moved upstairs for the night to a flat that had electricity. This morning, we're back downstairs, lit and warm.

Copyright 20016 Jane Fox

Light

Jerusalem's street light are close together and bright. This morning at 4, I looked out on bright snow. Reflection surely cannot increase lumens, but wow it was light outside.

Something heavy has driven along our street. The tracks are deep. I'd say we had more than six inches on the ground, but for all the constant weather reports, I've heard no number for the accumulation.

No bus service, and no one with any sense will be driving for a while. I actually have seen no cars, though our street is never busy. It looks as if there was only the one truck. Most streets are too narrow for a plow, there is anyway no place to push the snow to, and it should be melted away in two days. The radio says the trains are running between Jerusalem and Bet Shemesh. From the Jerusalem train station to anything else in Jerusalem (except the zoo) is quite a climb, though.

A sound change in the language has made the word for hills into a homonym for the word for cities. This makes reports and forecasts a bit unclear. Is it the cities of the Galil or its hills which can expect more snow? Both, of course, but I wonder which is in the forecast. Have to look it up online.

The heating system can only get the apartment up to 66 degrees F, trying for 68. Not bad, really.

Israelis are always told to conserve water. Almost always. Yesterday the warning went out, "Leave a tap running overnight to prevent, the pipes from freezing."

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Snow forecast again

Ynet reports the roads into Jerusalem are packed. Israelis like the idea of snow.

Very pretty until the power goes out or the water goes off. I'll leave a tap dripping to prevent this apartment's taps from bursting, but last time a water main was out for hours. I've filled empty bottles. Had those last time. THis time will also fill a bucket. Where to put it so we don't knock it over? In the shower, I guess.

Tonight's concert has been postponed to next Wednesday. They phoned about that. I had already seen the postponement on their website. I've laid in food for three days. The stovetop is gas. But the heat is electric. We'll leave the shutters up, because they, too, are electric.

If I had boots, this might be fun.

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Weather

Highs were in the 70s today (23 Celsius). Forecasters say highs in the 40s (8 Celsius) on Wednesday with the possibility of snow.

Dry and dusty today. Heavy rains predicted by the end of the week.

Jerusalem winter weather is generally variable, but this seems extreme.

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Weather

"What's winter weather like in Jerusalem?"

Two weeks ago children joyfully greeted a few snowflakes. This week I'm pushing up my T-shirt sleeves to take in more sun.

If you are travelling here in winter, bring at least one very warm layer, a raincoat, and lighter layers as well.

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Snow forecast

On the streets, on the bus and tram, I hear sheleg, snow.

Snow is forecast for Jerusalem late Wednesday, if the temperature dips to freezing at just the right altitude. The municipality published helpful information, including a warning to stock up on food and water, and felt it necessary to say, " If there is a risk of freezing, allow the warm water tap to drip to prevent water freezing in the solar [water heater] pipes (freezing water causes pipes to crack). " Note the revelation in parentheses. Jerusalemites are not used to freezing temperatures

They've just announced the closing of the main route from the west into Jerusalem four hours before the first possible flake might fall.

It is a hilly city, and I wouldn't want to drive that highway in the snow. Pipes aren't insulated. People don't have snow shovels. But most relevant is the trouble the mayor got into for not being well enough prepared for the last snowstorm, 13 months ago. Wasn't it Jane Byrne who got elected mayor of Chicago when her predecessor was blamed for snow problems? And Chicago is flat.

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Snow and free transportaiton

Thursday morning we woke to what eventually was 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow on the ground, bushes, trees, cars, sidewalks, and streets. The updates at the bottom of the TV screen informed us that public transportation in Jerusalem would be without charge until 2PM. Of course buses had been pulled off the streets and the light rail trains had stopped running not, we were assured, because the system was not built to run in snow but because of a problem.

Nevertheless everyone seemed in excellent humor. Schools were, of course closed, and children were out playing in what must have seemed extreme cold. The temperature hovered around freezing. Many businesses closed, but the little local store opened. Restaurants were open for business.

I left a tap dripping two nights running. Pipes are outside buildings and not insulated. So far we have not lost electricity or water, so we, too, are in excellent humor.



Copyright 2013 Jane Schulzinger Fox