Apr 30, Kathmandu- The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) said Thursday was the hottest April day in 85 years on record in the greater metropolitan area, as the country sweltered with scorching heat.

IMS has measured 40.7 degree Celsius on Thursday afternoon. This was much hotter than the 40.4 degrees Celsius measured in 1939. IMS said that similar records were broken in the Yavane and Nitjan communities.

Despite the weather, Israelis took to the country's parks to enjoy a week-long holiday for the Passover festival. The Nature and Park Authority has said that 55,000 people have entered the park and nature reserve by noon. The authority has asked those coming from outside to bring enough water and sunscreen. All the beaches along the Israeli coast were also packed with people.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has requested the public, especially the elderly, sick and chronically ill, not to go out in the sun and avoid unnecessary physical exertion.