Israel is set to record the highest seasonal temperature in almost 40 years on Sunday.
Temperatures across the country are expected to be warmer than usual to hot, rising to about 82 °F to 86 °F (28 °C to 30 °C) in the Judean Foothills, the Coastal Plain, Negev, the Jordan Valley and the northern Arava, according to the Israel Meteorological Service.
The forecast called for highs of 77°F (25°C) in the capital, Jerusalem, and in Haifa, up to 81°F (27°C) in Tel Aviv, and 82°F (28°C) in Beersheva.
The last time these temperatures were recorded in February was in 1987, according to Ynet.
The unusual warm weather is attributed to the flow of southern dry air into the region.
On Monday evening, temperatures are expected to drop, with showers falling in central and northern Israel until Tuesday morning.
The cold will then recede, as long-range forecasts indicate that the rest of February is expected to be drier than the multi-year average, feeling like springtime, according to the IMS.
Meanwhile on Saturday, the warm weather led some 90,000 people to visit Israel’s nature reserves and national parks, Ynet reported.
The IMS recorded highs of about 68 °F (20 °C) in Israel’s northern mountainous area and 75 °F (24 °C) in the Coastal Plain and Judean Foothills.
