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National Situation Update: Sunday, July 30, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Extreme Heat Returns to the Plains and Midwest

Midwest: Extreme heat is returning to the Plains and Midwest. There is an excessive heat watch for Minneapolis on Sunday and Monday and an excessive heat warning for both Chicago and St. Louis. Highs on Sunday will be between 100 and 110 in the Plains and between 95 and the low 100s in the Mississippi Valley. The remainder of the region will be in the upper 80s and 90s. A few severe thunderstorms could hit the area from North Dakota to Michigan on Sunday.

West: The West will benefit on Sunday from a moist upper-level disturbance over the Southwest, a cooling Pacific system coming into the Northwest and the hot upper-level high pressure area moving eastward into the central and eastern states. Thunderstorms are forecast over most of the Rockies and increasingly over adjacent high Plains areas.

South: An upper-level disturbance that brought heavy rain to parts of Tennessee on Saturday will reach the Southeast Coast on Sunday and then head out to sea. On Sunday, thunderstorms are forecast for the Carolinas, the northern Gulf Coast States, southern Georgia and Florida. Highs will range from the upper 80s and 90s in the Southeast to the upper 90s and low 100s in the southern Plains. An excessive heat warning has been issued for Tulsa Oklahoma.

Northeast: A weak cold front will move into Upstate New York and New England on Sunday.  An excessive heat warning has been issued for Philadelphia where highs in the 90s and high humidity levels are forecast. Highs in the region will be in the 80s and 90's.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea: A weak low pressure area in conjunction with a tropical wave is located about 800 miles east of the southern Windward Islands.  A tropical depression could form over the next day or two as the system moves westward.

Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with a tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea continues. Conditions are not conducive for tropical cyclone formation, however the wave does have the potential to cause heavy rainfall and flash flooding in parts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

Tropical storm formation is not expected through Monday July 31.

Eastern Pacific: An area of low pressure with scattered showers is centered about 750 miles south-southwest of Baja California Mexico. Slow development of this system is possible over the next couple of days as the system moves westward at 10-15 mph.

An area of disturbed weather is located about 450 miles SSE of Acapulco Mexico. Slow development of this system is possible during the next 24-48 hours.

Tropical storm formation is not expected in the Eastern Pacific through Sunday July 30.

Western Pacific: There is no activity in this region. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck in the Gulf of California approximately 535 miles SE of Tijuana, Baja California (Mexico) at 9:20 pm EDT July 29. No damages or injuries were reported.  (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, NOAA/NWS/West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Public Assistance PDAs for four counties in Colorado are scheduled to begin August 1, 2006.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

The National Preparedness Level continues at Level 5 (the highest level).  Preparedness Level 5 means that multiple geographic areas are experiencing major incidents.

Wildfire activity was moderate with 172 new fires reported throughout the nation. Eight new large fires were reported: one each in South Dakota, California, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Utah; and two in Texas.

Five large fires were contained: two each in California and Montana, and one in Nevada.

A cold front will move across Idaho and western Montana during the weekend bringing dry and windy conditions over northern California, northern Great Basin, portions of the northwestern states, and western Montana. Dry thunderstorms are possible over portions of the Great Basin and Intermountain West, with scattered thunderstorms further south. Dry and windy conditions will continue in the Plains.  (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)