A strong winter storm has battered Israel since Thursday, bringing heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms that have caused flooding in several cities. The storm also sparked at least one fire due to lightning. Rainfall totals have been significant, with Ashkelon receiving over 53 millimeters in 24 hours, and other areas such as Hadera, Acre, and Sdom also experiencing intense precipitation. Forecasters predict that the stormy weather, including more rain, thunderstorms, and below-average temperatures, will persist through the weekend.