JERUSALEM (JTA) — Snow and hail began falling in the Jerusalem area and continued to fall in the north of Israel.
Areas of the West Bank, including Hebron and Ramallah, also were blanketed in snow as the wild weather that started early this week continued in the country.
The snow in Jerusalem is expected to accumulate, and residents have been requested to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary. Mayor Nir Barkat also called on visitors who want to converge on Jerusalem to witness the rare snowfall to wait until it stopped falling.
Schools in areas throughout the country were closed over fears of dangerous travel due to the snow, continued flooding and loss of electricity.
Snow continued to fall heavily in the north, with at least three feet dropping on Mount Hermon.
The country also was plagued by high winds.
Two Palestinian women riding in a car swept away by flooding near Nablus on Tuesday night were found dead in Tulkarem on Wednesday morning. The driver of the car was rescued and hospitalized.
