Negev Floods 18/1/10
The 17-18/1 Negev rain event was mighty. Interestingly, the front arrived from the south this time, with thunder storms, hail, and heavy clouds. This was an exceptionally big rain event in the southern desert. The topography in this area, especially around Judean desert and dead sea, dictates that a strong rain for a couple of hours is guaranteed to flood all the wadis going down from top of the desert ridge to the valley. Judean desert and the Negev high ridge are about 500-900m high. Dead sea, only a few km apart, is at –400.
This one of the world’s most arid places is flooded almost every year, though this event was especially impressive. The rain started on the evening of 17/1. By 10pm the wadis were flowing down at the Arava, and by 2:00am on the 18th the flow was at its maximum, but the water kept running high for the rest of the day. The scenes were too dramatic, even for those who have seen floods before. We expect a great spring in the desert this year.
Jan 21, 2010
Photos: 79
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