JERUSALEM, Israel -- The Jerusalem municipality announced Thursday night that schools would remain closed for a second day Friday, giving school children one more day to play in the rapidly melting snow.

Though the eight-inch snow is disappearing fairly quickly, officials fear low temperatures could make slushy roads treacherous for bus drivers.

Overnight Friday, road crews spread salt while snow plows continued clearing streets citywide.

Israel's meteorological service said parts of the country received as much as 300 millimeters of rain (11.8 inches) and the Sea of Galilee rose 73 centimeters (nearly 29 inches) so far.

Runoff from melting snow on Mt. Hermon expected to raise the water level another 50 centimeters (almost 20 inches) by the end of the month, bringing it to within two meters (yards) of full capacity.

Last winter's rainfall broke a years-long cycle of below-average winter rains that had left the Sea of Galilee dangerously depleted.