Israeli Fire Still Burning; No Weather Aid Until Sunday

International firefighters are joining the fight against the massive blaze innorthern Israel that has claimed at least 41 lives. Firefighters, however, willnot receive any assistance from the weather until Sunday.The Associated Press reports the blaze has spread from one of Israel's fewnatural forests to the outskirts of Haifa, the nation's third-largest city.

Those battling the fire in northern Israel will continue to face dry weather,blazing sunshine, above-normal temperatures and low humidity through Saturdaywith a large dome of high pressure overhead.

Gusty winds have and will remain a problem for firefighters. Some of thestrongest winds will likely be measured this afternoon into tonight, EDT(tonight into midday Saturday, local time).

The winds are blowing from the southeast, meaning needed moisture from theMediterranean Sea is getting cut off.

That moisture will finally enter back into the picture on Sunday, EDT as astorm system approaches and winds shift around to the southwest.

If firefighters are still battling the blaze in northern Israel Sunday, theadded moisture may prove to be beneficial. An increase in moisture, meaning arise in humidity, typically slows the rate at which a fire will burn wood andother fuels.

The prospect of rain late Sunday is even better news to firefighters. However,rain amounts will not be substantial with less than 0.30 of an inch expected tofall.

According to the Associated Press, the massive blaze has already claimed thelives of at least 41 people.

All of those lives were lost when a bus carrying Israeli prison guards caughtfire. The guards were headed to rescue Palestinian inmates at a nearby prison.

Numerous countries, including the United States, are lending aid to Israel. Thenumber of Israeli firefighters only totals 1,400. These firefighters are alsoreportedly using old and faulty equipment.