The heat wave that has plagued the region since the weekend will continue at least until Wednesday or Thursday.

Temperatures will continue to rise in the coming days, mostly in the mountains and inland. The peak is expected in Eilat, with temperatures of 44-45 Celsius; relatively high temperatures are also expected in the Jordan Valley (40 C.), Jerusalem (37 C.) and the Negev (38-40 C.).

According to Anna Pavlov, a meteorologist at Meteo Tech, a meteorological service, no major change in the weather is expected before Wednesday or Thursday. "There will be some relief in the heat levels, but it will still be hot for the season," she said.

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A number of meteorologists have pointed out that the heat wave is not unusual for the season and similar ones have been registered in recent years. What is unusual is the duration of the heat wave.

According to data from Meteo Tech, in July 2002 temperatures in the Jordan Valley reached 48 Celsius, in Eilat 47 Celsius, and in Safed and Jerusalem they peaked at 39 Celsius - hotter than the current temperatures.

In July 2000, temperatures in Jerusalem reached 41 Celsius, in Safed 39 Celsius and Be'er Sheva, 40 Celsius.