The Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that it has developed a severe weather scenario for government agencies so that the nation may get ready in case a crisis brought on by summer heatwaves occurs.
The report projects two “severe” heatwaves lasting three to four days each, occurring twice per month from June through September. In certain places, these heatwaves are predicted to have temperatures as high as 49 degrees Celsius (120.2 degrees Fahrenheit). In May and October, the weather will be a little bit kinder, it stated.
The National Emergency Management Authority of the ministry and the Israel Meteorological Service worked jointly to create the document.
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“As a result of the increase in climate-related events in recent years, NEMA and the Israel Meteorological Service have formulated reference scenarios for extreme weather like floods, fires, and the new reference scenario for extreme heat waves,” it said in a statement.
The weather scenario envisioned electricity consumption jumping by 10 percent, with mortality rates rising to 8.5% above the average for those months.
Average hospitalization due to cardiovascular diseases could be 10%-15% higher, it said.
The hot weather would also bring an increased chance of fires.
“The scenario we are distributing to government ministries showcases the implications of a serious event,” said the director of the National Emergency Management Authority, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yoram Laredo. “The scenario is a binding document and forms the basis for the preparation of government ministries and planning and operative bodies.”
Story adapted from The Time of Israel
