During mid-August 2026, highly anomalous precipitation occurred relative to the peak summer months. On the 15th of the month, precipitation concentrated over the Judean Mountains, yielding accumulation totals of 30 mm in Jerusalem (St. Anne’s station in the Old City) and 26 mm in Ma'ale Adumim. Since the commencement of meteorological records in the mid-19th century, such rainfall amounts have not been recorded in the Judean Mountains during July and August; historically, the maximum recorded accumulation did not exceed 1 mm (in 1932). On the 16th, precipitation concentrated over the Jordan Valley and the Judean Desert, registering double-digit accumulation totals that are likewise unprecedented for the summer season in this region.

This event is exceptional with regard to both precipitation accumulation and spatial distribution, and may be driven by the influence of a strengthening El Niño event reaching anomalous intensity. It is noteworthy that summer precipitation in general (albeit of lower magnitude) has exhibited an increasing frequency over the past two decades, contrasting with its prior historical rarity.