SEA OF GALILEE
SEA OF GALILEE
591
would be possible in other climates, e.g. a tem- perature of 110" is not uncommonly recorded. This may explain the expression ' great fever ' (irvpeTi^ fjieydXi^) of Lk 4^^.
The temperature of the waters of the Lake does not vary so much as might be expected, and is very little loMered even by the melting of the snows on Hermon. This is to be accounted for by the fact that such waters have already passed through Lake ^luleh and have also had a consider- able course in the upper Jordan. The average to a depth of 30 ft. is 68°, from 30 to 50 ft. it is 62°, and at a greater depth there is a constant tem- perature of 59° (PEFQSt, 1894, pp. 211-220).
Rain. — The average number of rainy days during the year is 60, and the rainfall 22-5 inches. There is no rain during the months of June, July, August, and September. Two-thirds of the rainfall occurs in December, January, and February ; the other months having only one to five days on which rain falls, which may mean either now and again, a whole day, or merely slight showers. The degree of humidity is greatest in January, when it stands at 77. It decreases till June, when it is 42 ; but in August, again, it has risen to 45 ; while in Sep- tember it drops as low as 39.
Winds. — From May till October there are often sirocco days. They generally come 3, 7, or 10 at a time, though sometimes the hot wind lasts but one day, and then the day following brings a delight- ful sensjition of coolness, enjoyment, and satisfac- tion. On the sirocco days the heat on the Lake and in the surrounding region is intensely depressing, but between the visits of the hot wind, westerly breezes blow in summer, and this makes the east side of the Lake pleasant. The western shore, however, south of Me j del benefits little, as the winds pass over the protecting hills and strike the Sea far out, leaving the air inshore close and stifling. The north end of the Lake does not sutler to the same extent, because to the west of the Plain of Gennesaret the hills are somewhat lower and farther back, and, besides, the wind blows freely down the Valley of Pigeons, and gives the district around Capernaum all that the east side enjoys at such seasons. These westerly winds usually spring uji in the afternoon, they become strong as the evening advances, but generally cease about 10 p.m. During the rest of the year the weather is more variable, and the Avinds blow from different directions. Strong winds sometimes come from the north-east, and when they diverge to the north and come over Hermon the temijerature is still more reduced, and a sensation of chill is felt in the atmosphere. This sometimes occurs till well on in May ; while, on the other hand, a hot south wind will sometimes blow up the Ghor (Jordan Valley) in April, bringing with it clouds of dust which dim the sunlight and darken the hills, giving one a premature sensation of the summer's glow.
Storms. — The rainy season is generally intro- duced by thunderstorms. In October and Novem- ber, small clouds, scarcely larger than a man's hand, gather on Tabor, Jebel Jarmuk, and the other hills of Upper Galilee. They grow in size and in threatening aspect, and generally in three days' time a violent thunderstorm with heavy rains bursts over the valley. This is then usually fol- lowed by a time of calm with a clear blue sky overhead. Such storms, but not generally so violent, occur from time to time during the Avinter, and the rainy season may be closed by something of the same natiire. In the beginning of May the sky will be clouded, and there Avill be one or two days' rain with or without thunder. Sometimes, however, when the valley has been enjoying the most peaceful calm, it will be affected by storms ihat have occurred elsewhere. The hills of Upper
Galilee may have been hidden in dense mists for a day or two, but nothing has disturbed the peace of the Lake. There have been rains, however, on the high lands only a few hours distant, and these, forming themselves into mountain torrents, have come down, sweeping all before them (Mt 7"^, Lk 6'*'') in their descent, and flooding what but a few minutes earlier had been a dry channel. The present writer has personally watched the Wad;/ Babadtych and the Wady Leimon, both of which cross the Plain of Gennesaret, as they became in an incredibly short time changed from little more than dry, stony river-beds to impassable foaming torrents ; and, when the hills have been dark with clouds, has heard the warning given to get over these wadys ' before the stream comes down.'
Storms may occur on the Lake at any season, and there are few places where changes come so suddenly. The experience of Lynch is that of every one who has spent any time here : ' While pulling about the Lake, a squall swept doAvn one of the ravines, and gave us a convincing proof of how soon the placid sea could assume an angry look' (p. 164). The storms on the Sea of Galilee are in many ways peculiar, and sometimes the Avind seems to bloAv from various directions at one time, tossing the boat about. This arises from the fact that the Avinds bloAv violently doAvn the narroAV gorges and strike the Sea at an angle, stirring the Avaters to a great depth. Many of the storms, too, are quite local in their character. This may be understood by the fact that Avhen a Avesterly wind is bloAving, all may be smooth along the shores to the north and south of Tiberias and for a mile out, but there Ave may pass in a moment from the region of perfect calm into a gale so violent that the only chance of safety is to run before the Avind to the eastern shore. At other times the south end of the Lake may be comparatively peaceful, but, sailing nortliAvard, Ave no sooner reach Mejdel than the Avind from Wady el-HaniAm Avill seize the sail, and, unless it be instantly loAvered, overturn the boat. These Avinds are from the Avest, but it is generally the Avind from the north-east that raises a general storm over the Avhole Sea. This Avind bloAvs right into the Sea from cl-Batiha, and from this direction no part is sheltered. The suddenness, too, Avith Avhich the storms spring up may be illus- trated by a storm Avhich came from this direction, and Avhich the present Avriter observed. A com- pany of visitors Avere standing on the shore at Tiberias, and, noting the glassy surface of the Avater and the smallness of the Lake, they ex- pressed doubts as to the possibility of such storms as those described in the Gospels. Almost immedi- ately the Avind sprang up. In 20 minutes the sea Avas Avhite Avith foam-crested AvaA^es. Great billoAvs broke over the toAvers at the corners of the city Avails, and the visitors were compelled to seek shelter from the blinding spray, though now 200 yards from the Lake side. It is further to be noted that the north end of the Lake, being less sheltered than the rest, is more subject to storms. Indeed, only in j)eculiar circumstances could it escape hav^ing a chief share in any storm.