Jerusalem Municipality entered an intensified winter mode this week, starting Tuesday, 9 December 2025, in response to the Byron storm and forecasts for severe weather in Jerusalem that include heavy rain and strong winds. Officials say the aim is to provide fast and efficient responses to any incident, while keeping daily life in the city running as smoothly as possible under extreme weather conditions.
As part of the response, a joint emergency situation room has been activated, holding regular assessments with all relevant municipal departments. Field teams have been reinforced, the 106 municipal hotline has been scaled up, and enhanced patrols by municipal enforcement units are moving through the city to identify risks and deal with hazards in real time.
How is Jerusalem preparing for the Byron storm in the city?
Ahead of the weather system intensifying over the capital, the municipality has increased cleaning work around drainage inlets and ordered infrastructure contractors to maintain high alert. Water utility Hagihon is working in close coordination with municipal crews to ensure effective drainage and to reduce the risk of damage. Officials note that when very large amounts of rain fall in a short period, the drainage system can face temporary overload, creating the possibility of localised flooding in some areas of Jerusalem.
What does the Byron storm mean for everyday life in Jerusalem?
The Byron storm is a particularly active winter system, with strong winds and intermittent heavy showers already affecting the Jerusalem area. The municipality stresses that extreme weather in Jerusalem impacts not only traffic and infrastructure, but also vulnerable residents, especially in older neighbourhoods and densely built quarters. The city is therefore treating the Byron storm in Jerusalem as both a meteorological event and a test of urban resilience.
How are Jerusalem welfare services supporting residents in severe weather?
The emergency arm of the municipal welfare department is operating 24/7 to provide urgent assistance. In recent days, social workers have been calling elderly and isolated residents known to social services to ensure they are prepared with heating, medication and basic winter equipment. At the same time, outreach teams have been conducting night and day patrols to locate people sleeping rough and at-risk youth, encouraging them to move to shelters for the night. Those who refuse are given blankets, warm clothing and hot drinks.
The municipality also relies on its building representatives network, which includes more than 2,000 volunteers across Jerusalem who remain in regular contact with neighbours, with a focus on older residents and people living alone. They serve as an important bridge between the city and residents during emergencies.
City officials are calling on the public to stay alert and cautious, avoid crossing flooded roads, refrain from entering basements or underground spaces when there is a risk of flooding, and keep away from temporary structures and unstable sheds. In life-threatening situations, residents are instructed to call the fire and rescue services at 102, and for any other distress to contact the municipal 106 hotline.
