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Last update - 23:18 18/02/2008 Jerusalem girds for rare snow rerun as storm makes landfall By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service, and News Agencies Tags: forecast, weather, snow  Jerusalem city officials braced for a rare second snowfall of the winter, as a storm that blanketed parts of Greece and Turkey made landfall in Israel Monday evening. The storm, which was expected to dust mountains in the north and central regions, left about 200 villages stranded in heavy snowfalls across Greece and forced Greek airport authorities to cancel dozens of flights. The first flakes began falling in the north and in the Judean Hills in mid-afternoon, as temperatures across Israel dropped sharply. Advertisement "It will come in force, in one blow," said meteorologist Boaz Dayan of the storm, which was forecast to send temperatures plunging as snow began to fall in the Hermon region and the Galilee highlands. "It's very similar to the previous storm, but unlike that one, it will not come in two waves, but in one ongoing wave." The snow is expected to spread to the mountains in the center of the country, including Jerusalem, toward evening. Meanwhile, Jewish National Fund reported an increase in illegal tree felling for heating purposes in the north. The storm will be heaviest on Monday night, when snow is expected to fall on all mountains above 600 meters in the north and center of the country. Even the Negev could get some snow. Israel Electric Corporation asked the public to fasten loose objects that might blow in the forceful winds, hit power lines and disrupt the electricity supply. In Athens, residents awoke Sunday to freezing temperatures and a thick layer of snow covering the Acropolis, a phenomenon that occurs only once every few years. "The same very cold front of air that caused heavy snow in Greece will arrive in Israel," said meteorologist Nahum Malik. Last week, some meteorologists predicted that the storm would be particularly severe, with a few even saying there could be snow in Tel Aviv. "This system is very strong, and so when we saw it a week ago already, there was the impression that it would come in a very extreme way," said Dayan. "But such strong systems generally miss us, and now it's become clear that it's far from being unprecedented." Malik also said the cold front is shaping up to be somewhat less severe than first thought. "In the beginning, it seemed like this system would be more extreme," he said. "But ultimately it is taking a longer way above the Mediterranean Sea, which warms it up." The meteorologists agree that this week's rain and snow are not expected to significantly change the balance of seasonal precipitation, which is so far looking particularly low. "Every system improves the situation, but the first part of the winter was very bad in terms of rain, and in the northern region the amount of rain is still far from the average," said Malik. Dayan goes as far as calling this a drought year. "From the perspective of precipitation, it is certainly possible to define this year as a drought," he said. "I think this is the final storm. Afterward there will be a little more rain in March, and that's it." Civil defense authorities were on alert, and problems with power and water supply were reported across the country as Greece was gripped by the second day of a winter storm. Related articles: Air and sea ports suffer as stormy weather sweeps across Israel Cold weather turns fish pond into swan lake Get ready for the 'other' storm: Wet and wild weather on the way Bookmark to del.icio.us   Artistic justice Israel Museum to exhibit art looted by Nazis and unclaimed. Let in snow For second time this winter, Jerusalem braces for snow.   1.   BRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 08:49  |  Joseph . E 18/02/08   2.   Maybe hold this story until it happens? 08:58  |  sh 18/02/08   3.   Coupled with Israel`s policy in Gaza 10:27  |  Paul Wood 18/02/08   4.   Reply # 1 what no explanation from the Torah today 10:30  |  sj 18/02/08   5.   Paul Wood, are some kinda sick anti-semite with NO life, that you 10:51  |  spade 18/02/08   6.   Paul Wood #3 11:09  |  hank 18/02/08   7.   #4 - Good One From Israel`s Snow Belt 12:01  |  Mark 18/02/08   8.   hope you guys will get more than we have... 12:04  |  eric 18/02/08   9.   Missing an opportunity? 14:30  |  Axel 18/02/08   10.   Don`t talk against Paul Wood! 14:43  |  Nik Miller 18/02/08   11.   Don`t talk against Paul Wood! 14:43  |  Nik Miller 18/02/08   12.   #3 - Paul Wood 17:39  |  MichaelF 18/02/08   13.   Weather Patterns are Changing 17:40  |  MichaelF 18/02/08   14.   9axel. more likely Mossad will be blamed - check #2paul 17:49  |  to be expected 18/02/08   15.   the mossad is to blame.lol 20:50  |  Gabriel 18/02/08   16.   Not a good sign. It`s global warming. 00:39  |  Maureen Ann 19/02/08   17.   Mother nature at work. 10:28  |  Sara 19/02/08   18.   Snow is Natrual. God is an Alien 19:16  |  Yechiel 19/02/08

Today Online Livni: Halting peace talks with Palestinians will not end terror Responses: 119 Lebanon tense amid specter of fresh Israel-Hezbollah fighting Responses: 126 German intellectuals: Israel's creation made Palestinians victims of the Nazi Holocaust Responses: 173 Meron Benvenisti: The demographic bomb is 1-2 years away Responses: 52 Yoel Marcus: Better to keep tabs on terrorists than to kill them Responses: 33 Rosner's Domain New Guests: Orthodox women want a "seat at the table" Gaza: The Problem Nobody Wants Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? Most blatant example of Israeli interference in American election The row over Obama's stance on Israel is a dispute between Jews More Headlines 19:46 Livni: Halting peace talks with PA will not end terror 17:42 Palestinians: 10-year-old Gaza boy killed in Hamas-IDF crossfire 19:10 IDF: Reinforcing private homes in Sderot is our last priority 20:05 BBC: Israeli general dodged U.K. arrest for war crimes in 2005 16:22 ANALYSIS: Sarkozy's Holocaust education plan baffles Jews 16:53 Egyptian officials meet with Hamas on Gaza-Egypt border security 19:25 Driver responsible for 3 deaths receives only 3-year prison term 14:47 Islamic Jihad, Palestinian rights groups at odds over deadly Gaza blast 14:01 Lawyer jailed for fraud in dealing with Jews' pensions in Germany 16:35 Pakistan's pro-Musharraf party concedes defeat in elections 15:21 Egypt police kill Sudanese migrant on Israel border 16:20 Widow suspected of faking cancer to receive donations Previous Editions Select Day 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb

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