Many Jerusalem residents head into the Judean Desert after rainfall to catch rare flash flows, a habit that often meets fast-changing terrain. Heavy weekend rain left the area soaked and unstable. A young hiker entered Nahal Tekoa for an offroad visit just as the rain intensified, the slopes turned to mud and the channel narrowed. Within minutes she was stranded deep inside the wadi. Etzion-Yehuda rescue volunteers pushed in under heavy rain and located her in the rising flow.
Why is Nahal Tekoa so dangerous in winter?
Nahal Tekoa sits just 15–20 minutes from Jerusalem, roughly 12–18 kilometers southeast of the city, making it a popular post-rain destination. But in winter it reacts instantly to weather: desert soil seals, runoff builds within minutes and the trail shifts into thick mud and sudden water rise. With steep drops and a tight channel, even brief rainfall can trigger real flash-flood danger. This time rescuers reached her in time and led her out safely.
