Israel
Weather locations in Israel
Choose a location in Israel to view its available forecast products.
Israel illustrated weather map
1 mapped locations
Only locations with a verified coordinate are marked. The complete location list is below.
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Climate of Israel
Country climate guideIsrael stretches along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean, and it is small enough that the climate changes mainly with distance from the sea. Tel Aviv on the coast averages about 14 °C in January and around 27 °C in August, with annual rainfall of roughly 500 millimetres that arrives almost entirely between November and March. East and south of the coastal plain the country becomes progressively drier until it reaches the desert of the Negev.
Main climate types
Three main types cover the country. A Mediterranean climate hugs the coast and the hill country. A semi-arid belt runs across the middle, and an arid climate covers the Negev and the rift valley. The dividing line is geography: rain depends on westerly storms that lose most of their moisture crossing the Mediterranean, so everything east of the hill crest is progressively drier.
Temperatures
Winter is mild and rain-dominated. Jerusalem, at about 750 metres, averages around 11 °C in January and cools sharply at night, while Tel Aviv stays near 14 °C. Summer is hot and dry, with the coastal cities reaching the high 20s °C in August. The Negev highlands average well above 20 °C by day in summer, while the lowest ground beside the Dead Sea stays the hottest inhabited part of the country.
Rainfall
Nearly all precipitation falls between late October and March. Annual totals range from about 500 to 550 millimetres on the central coast to under 100 in the Negev and below 50 at the far southern tip of the Arava. Snow falls on Mount Hermon and occasionally on the higher parts of Jerusalem. A rare dust storm can settle over the country when strong winds stir up desert sand.
When to go
For most visitors the best months are March to May and September to October, when days are pleasant and rain unlikely. Beaches work from April to November. Winter, though rainier, is the time for snow on Mount Hermon, wildflowers and quieter towns. Between June and August the heat, and coastal humidity, can be uncomfortable for anyone unaccustomed to it.