Winter in Palestine takes the form of heavy continuous rains, which frequently disrupt communications and damage crops.
An unusually heavy flood swept Tiberias on May 14 last year. A cloudburst following torrential rains brought death and desolation to the ancient city. Thirty-four persons lost their lives in the flood waters and more than $500,000 damage was done.
Whole streets were washed away, when the cloudburst, which originated in the upper parts of the city swept down on the slum quarter near the Lake of Galilee. A second cloudburst followed the first as the relatives of the victims were returning from funerals and took more lives.
More than 1,500 British troops in Palestine were mobilized and sent to Tiberias to prevent looting and to help in the work of caring for the refugees. Most of the dead were children who were playing in the streets when the torrential waters swept down on the ancient city.
In December of last year and early in January of this year heavy rains also took a toll of lives in Palestine. Tel Aviv, modern Jewish city, suffered from the floods. The streets were turned into rivers. Rail service was interrupted.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
