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A week of stormy weather characterized by heavy rain, frequent hail storms, and high winds culminated on Thursday in a rare heavy snowfall that blanketed Jerusalem overnight.
The snowfall shut down government offices, most businesses, schools, and most public transportation. Numerous felled trees throughout the city crushed cars and the outside of buildings after cracking under the weight of the snow.
A felled tree in Jerusalem's Bak'a neighborhood blocked the street and crushed three vehicles on January 10, 2013. Throughout the city in the past week, there were dozens of felled trees and huge limbs that came down due to persistent windstorms and heavy snowfall. (Genevieve Belmaker/The Epoch Times)
A 24-hour market near Jerusalem's city center on January 10, 2013 is seen through a thick haze of snowfall. The snowfall started in the night and continued through late Thursday afternoon. (Genevieve Belmaker/The Epoch Times)
The major thoroughfare of Hebron Street in Jerusalem during morning rush hour on January 10, 2013. Schools, most businesses, and essential services were closed due to the unusual snowfall. (Genevieve Belmaker/The Epoch Times)
Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock and the Old City covered with snow on January 10, 2013. (Gidon Belmaker/The Epoch Times)
