(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese meteorologists says this week’s heavy rainfall in Lebanon will make up for last year’s severe winter drought, according to Michel Frem, head of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute.
“The rainfall has minimized fire hazards that turn up during this time every year and it is also excellent for agriculture and the environment,” Frem told the National News Agency on Thursday.
Experts say 700 mm of rainfall in the Bekaa is needed to make up for last year’s drought.
“Climate change and discrepancies with regards to the amount of rainfall across the country make it difficult for meteorologists to predict the weather,” Frem said, adding that the meteorology department only forecasts weather conditions a week in advance.
Despite these difficulties, Frem expects rainfall to persist throughout the winter, but says the prediction “is difficult to confirm.”
Heavy rainfall caused river and street flooding on Tuesday night that continued well into Wednesday morning across Lebanon.
Frem says Kfar Shakhna, near Tripoli, witnessed the heaviest rainfall in the country so far with a 97 mm of rain in the past week. The village usually witnesses an average of 62 mm of rain annually.
Beirut is reported to have experienced 55 mm of rainfall over the past week. This is an 18 mm increase in comparison to rainfall in Beirut over the same period in 2013.
The rainy trend will continue over the weekend, with rainfall and lighting expected for Saturday and Sunday, Frem said. Friday, however, will face sporadic showers, he added.
Amazing photograph of Beirut’s storms by Karim Bechara:
