A feeder stream of the Kinneret
We have had a break in the rain, but the level of the Kinneret continues to rise. As of last Monday morning, the Kinneret had added another 2.5 cm in the last day, and the surface was then at -210.22 meters. The weekend weather is predicted to be stormy.
Since the beginning of the winter, the Kinneret has risen a total of 1.65 meters, with 1.27 of the coming in January. There are only 1.42 meters until the Kinneret tops out. At that point they have to open the dams at the southern end to keep the lake from flooding its banks.
Dr. Amos Porat, of the Israel Meteorological Service says that we have not seen a January like that in 28 years. In 1992 the Kinneret rose the same amount in January.
According to Dr. Porat this was one of the rainiest Januaries since records began to be kept in Israel. Although tragically five people were killed in floods during the month, the amount of rain in many places was double the average, and in many places was the second of third rainiest January since records were kept.
Generally in the north and central parts of the country, the rainfall is about 1.5 times the average. In a few places we even surpassed the average seasonal totals. Dr. Porat also notes that January was generally colder than average.
The rainiest part was the northwest corner of the country, including the western Galil and the northern shore where the average was about 2.5 times the usual amount.
