The first winter low pressure system developed in the eastern Mediterranean after an unusually dry autumn. Many thunderstorms developed almost everywhere in central and northern Israel, accompanied by heavy rains and hail showers.

11:00
Towering cumulus ahead of an approaching thunderstorm, with the anvil visible above them. Looking WNW from Ein-Karem in the Judean Mountains.

12:30
During my chase of a large thunderstorm I had no choice but to enter the hail core. The hail was so strong that I had to pull over for about 20 minutes until it passed. The hail was between marble-size to quarter-size. Picture taken near Ora, in the Judean Mountains.
 

13:30
A back view of the rain core of the thunderstorm that produced the hail above, after it passed Jerusalem and reached the Judean Desert. The rain flooded many streams in the desert, and roads in the area were closed. Looking E from Holyland in Jerusalem.

At the same time another thunderstorm developed north of Jerusalem. This large cumulonimbus updraft suddenly became visible after the Cb above passed East. Looking NE from Holyland in Jerusalem.
 

13:50
Towering cumulus bubbling upwards, looking W from Holyland in Jerusalem.

14:10
Towering cumulus with a dark flat updraft base, looking WSW near Ora, in the Judean Mountains.

14:40
Developing cumulonimbus, looking S from Holyland in Jerusalem.

16:00, Looking W from Ora, in the Judean Mountains.
An approaching thunderstorm with a visible rain core.
 

Towering cumulus.
 

16:30
Towering cumulus developing into a cumulonimbus, with another Cb coming in behind it. Looking WNW from Ora.
 

16:50
A massive multicell thunderstorm developing out of nowhere, with a fast growing anvil and rock hard updrafts. Looking N from Ora.