Dust storm moves into Israel bringing high levels of air pollution

 

The Ministry recommended that people with breathing conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women should abstain from physical exertion and schools were told that students should limit outside activity.  

 

High levels of particles in the air were measured on Tuesday morning in Jerusalem and Judea, the Golan Heights and the Galilee, and the ministry said that all areas of the country would experience the polluted air conditions by evening.  

 

As of 9 a.m., levels of PM10 – particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less – far exceeded typical daily averages on a non-stormy day, which rest around 60 micrograms per cubic meter, according to Environmental Protection Ministry data. 

 

At the western Galilee monitoring station, the average PM10 level for the past 24 hours was 345 micrograms per cubic meter, with the maximum level over a 30-minute period climbing to 1,919 micrograms per cubic meter, the ministry said. The Afula station showed average and maximum values of 269 micrograms per cubic meter and 1,041 micrograms per cubic meter respectively. In Jerusalem, the average and maximum values reached 1,350 micrograms per cubic meter and 8,452 micrograms per cubic meter, while in the Negev, they rose to 223 micrograms per cubic meter and 3,086 micrograms per cubic meter respectively. 

 

Magen David Adom advised the public to drink a lot of water (at least three liters per day), to stay out of the sun, avoid activity outside, and to use sunscreen. 

 

In the North, Medical staff at Ziv Medical Center in Safed called on local residents to either stay inside or abstain from physical activity.  

 

On Tuesday conditions will be hazy and hot and heat wave conditions will prevail inland and humidity will rise on the coast. At night, temperatures will be above average. 

 

Expected highs and lows: Jerusalem 36-25; Tel Aviv 33-27; Haifa 31-26; Tiberias 41-30; Beersheba 40-25; Eilat 42-31.