After a wet but fast-moving rain on Shabbat, we appear to be entering at least a week of unsettled, if not very rainy weather.

I remember visiting Israel years ago and being struck by the temperatures of an unusually warm February, only to be followed by a much colder stretch in March. It’s been a while since we have had that happen: the upcoming period may not be especially cold, but it is shaping up to be persistently wet and at times chilly.

As noted by Yaakov Cantor, a Medicane that moved over Libya is now being absorbed into a broader cyclonic circulation. This setup will help draw tropical moisture northward toward Israel through Thursday, bringing the immediate potential for locally heavy rainfall and strong winds.  Rivers and cities may flood in the rains; trees may come down.

Beyond that, the familiar phrase “when it rains, it pours” may prove quite literal. A series of storm systems—approaching from the north, west, and even the northeast—are expected to affect the region over the next couple of weeks. Each system could bring meaningful rainfall, with the wet pattern potentially extending into early April.

We need the rain. We do not need the missiles.

Hopefully, the coming days bring much more of the former—and none of the latter. The only booms we should hear are peals of thunder.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)