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Unprecedented hot and dry spells occurred all over Israel for six days, from May 16 to May 21, 2020. Maximal air temperature reached 46.5 °C and minimal relative humidity reached 10%. The total number of hours with temperature of ≥40 °C was 45 and 41 in the coastal plain and the Judean mountains foothills, respectively. The downy mildew pathogens of cucumber and grapevine survived this extreme event, showing a rapid revival in nature soon after the heat wave. The current isolates of these oomycetes seem to be more tolerant to heat compared to the isolates of the previous century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]