Over the past couple of weeks, the land of Israel has received a lot of rain. Some of it, in fact, falling as snow. Some parts of Jerusalem received over 20 centimeters (8 inches) of snow and the top of Mount Hermon recorded over a meter of snow.
Well, that rain has made it through the wadis, down to the Jordan River and into the Dead Sea. Consequently, the water in the Dead Sea has risen nearly two feet in the past week. The Times of Israel reports:
A test conducted Wednesday revealed that the Dead Sea rose 10 centimeters since its last monthly measurement, the first recorded increase in volume for the iconic and endangered body of water in 10 years.
The higher level is the result of runoff from the fierce storm that swept across Israel last week, bringing record levels of rainfall and causing the Sea of Galilee to rise by some 70 centimeters, with more expected after the winter runoff.
The Dead Sea is fed by the Jordan River as well as a series of streams running from the Judean Hills, many of which experienced heavy flooding last week.
Pumping from the Sea of Galilee, which feeds the Jordan River, along with the diversion of water to the Dead Sea Works factory and the extremely arid climate have all contributed to a sharp drop in the level of the Dead Sea — over 20 meters since the 1970s.
Of course, this single shot of heavy rain won't provide long-term relief to the sinking water level from the past 30 years. But, it doesn't hurt.