Unexpected Severe Storm in Central Israel
November 18, 2015
Photographer: Menashe Davidson
Summary Author: Menashe Davidson
The weather forecast for the coastal plain region of Israel on October 25, 2015, called for scattered thunderstorms but no mention of severe weather. However, as I was working in my citrus plantation, in Tira, Israel, the sky began to darken in the west around 9:00 a.m. Soon, a fast moving storm was upon us -- one of the worst of my lifetime. Powerful winds above 60 mph (100 kmph), hailstones of 1 - 2 in (2.5 - 5.0 cm) in diameter and 2.4 in (61 mm) of rainfall in 35 minutes devastated the area. The damage to my citrus trees was shocking. Wounds on the west-facing side of the trees were particularly noteworthy because of the wind-driven hail. Most of these trees will recover, but much of this year's citrus crop will be lost. The photo at left shows pre-ripening oranges ravaged by the storm.
Photo Details: Top - Camera Maker: Apple; Camera Model: iPhone 5; Focal Length: 4.1mm (35mm equivalent: 118mm); Digital Zoom: 2.678x; Aperture: ƒ/2.4; Exposure Time: 0.050 s (1/20); ISO equiv: 64. Bottom - same except: Focal Length: 4.1mm (35mm equivalent: 42mm); Digital Zoom: 1.274x;
ISO equiv: 50.