Weather Forecast Rains Out BBQ for Yom Ha'Atzmaut

Israel's favorite pastime on Yom Ha'Atzmaut is the Bar-B-Que, known in Hebrew as "mangal," but it is going to be rained out in most of the country if the weather forecasters are right.

Predicting weather in Israel between winter and summer is tricky, and weather models differ on the amount of precipitation. Some forecast very heavy rain and others less than an inch.

All of them agree that it will be very windy and cold on Thursday, which would save Israelis from having to fan the coals if it weren't for the probability that the coals will be too wet to light.

High winds and no rain would be a near-certain disaster for Israel's few forests, which are dry enough to go up in flames if ignited by a spark for a mangal.

Yom Ha'Atzmaut is observed one day earlier than usual this year in order to prevent wholesale desecration of the Sabbath.

Remembrance Day ceremonies have been moved up to Tuesday night and Wednesday, followed by Independence Day the following day, which will be the 4th of Iyar instead of the actual date  of the 5th.

Temperatures will rise Sunday and Monday, when it will be warmer than usual for this time of year , but they will plunge on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by rain at night and on Thursday, possible as far south as the northern Negev.

Friday also will be wet and windy.

April is headed for the record books as the wettest ever.