Rainfall variations in the Galilee (Israel), II. Variations in the temporal distribution between 1931-1960 and 1951-1980

Mean monthly rainfalls from different stations in the Galilee (northern Israel) for the periods 1931-1960 and 1951-1980, have been correlated with longitude, latitude and altitude of each station. A seasonal pattern of the explained variance (r²) by each of the variables has been found. At the beginning of the rainy season the rainfall is correlated most strongly with the longitude of the stations, during the main rainy season with the altitude and at the end of the rainy season with the latitude of the stations. In the latter period (1951-1980) a retardation of the rainfall regime is observed. A greater portion of the annual total falls during the spring time (March-April) while a parallel decrease in the winter (January-February) rains is observed. The spatial distribution of this retardation and some of its implications are discussed.