We started saying the winter version of the blessing for a good year on Oct 30th and the heavens opened. The first rains began whilst we were praying for rain during the festival of Shemini Atzeret. The level of the Kinneret has started rising, and a (harmless) waterspout appeared off Tel Aviv beach.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Rainy-weekend-leaves-parts-of-Israel-flooded-380482