First snow of winter falls on Mount Hermon after weekend of heavy rain, flooding across Israel

The first snow of the 2026 winter season fell on Mount Hermon in Israel overnight between Sunday and Monday. 

Mount Hermon is part of a mountain range bridging the Israel-Lebanon border, with the highest Israeli-controlled peak (Mitzpe Shlagim) reaching 2,224 to 2,236 meters. It also hosts Israel's only ski resort.

The snowfall followed a weekend of heavy rain and storms that caused severe flooding in several areas of the country.

Footage shared on social media from the Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve in northern Israel on Sunday shows a rushing Banias waterfall and fast-flowing water in the nearby streams.

The Kinneret's water level rose by just one centimeter over the weekend after record rainfall hit central and northern Israel, reaching 213.70 meters below sea level, the Water Authority announced, with the lake still 39 centimeters lower than at the same time last year.

Water Authority spokesperson Itay Dudi said about 20 millimeters of rain fell over the lake over the weekend, while the Jordan River flow stood at six cubic meters per second.

"The effect of the rain on the river is still small to negligible," Dudi said, adding that most of the rainfall from the current weather system fell over Israel's coastal plain, particularly in the south.

Dudi added that, "Over the past decade, there were three winters with worse figures: Exactly one decade ago, the water level was 3 cm higher than it is today."

According to additional figures released by the Water Authority, the lake's current level is among the lowest recorded for November 8 over the past decade. In 2017, the water level was 58 centimeters lower than today, while in 2018, it was 94 centimeters lower.

Severe flooding hits Sharon region

In the Sharon region, weekend flooding hit several areas in Kadima-Zoran, prompting the local council to urge residents to stay home and avoid non-essential outings.

According to Israel Meteorological Service data, the Kadima weather station recorded a record 117 mm of rain in just an hour and a quarter, an extraordinary volume for the Sharon region. After the flooding, council teams were dispatched to clear hazards, remove blockages, and drain standing water.

Jerusalem Post Staff, Yanir Yagna, Eli Ashkenazi, Yoav Etiel, and Hodaya Ran contributed to this report.

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