The climate is Mediterranean in the north, arid in the south. The Rift Valley is about 15 F degrees warmer than the rest of the nation in the winter. Winds can be extremely brisk and chilly in higher locations. The Dead Sea area is one of the hottest regions in the world.

Summers are long, warm and dry (April-Oct.) and Winter is generally mild (Nov.-March) with somewhat drier, cooler weather in hilly regions like Jerusalem.

Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions; hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semi-desert conditions in the Negev.

Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall in the mountains to periodic oppressively hot dry winds that send temperatures soaring, particularly in spring and autumn. To know how to pack, check weather updates at www.israelweather.net or www.cnn.com/weather/forecast.