Winter storm Coral: Hermon turns white, rare snow in Mount Carmel

The winter storm “Coral” peaked in Israel on Monday morning, covering Mount Hermon in snow and bringing light snowfall to northern and central Israel.

Light snow fell in the Galilee, the Jerusalem area, and, for the first time in nine years, Mount Carmel. The last time Israel’s capital saw the white stuff was in January 2022.

Unusually cold temperatures were recorded nationwide, dropping below freezing in the north and reaching 32 degrees Fahrenheit in Jerusalem. The coastal plain saw lows of 42.8, with most of the country experiencing temperatures under 50.

Snow fell at elevations of 1,640–1,970 feet but only accumulated in the Upper Galilee. Mount Hermon reported 23 degrees Fahrenheit at its lower station with about 8 inches of snow. In Mount Carmel’s Usfiya village, snow fell for the first time since 2016.

While light snow continued intermittently in some areas, heavy accumulation isn’t expected. The coming days will remain cold, with minimal rainfall limited to light, local showers from the north to the northern Negev.