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National Situation Update: Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South:

An area of moderate rainfall is accompanying a cold front as it marches through the Southeast. Rainfall amounts should average between 1 and 2 inches with some areas picking up as much as 3 inches. The remainder of the South should be dry until Friday.

Midwest:

The Midwest will dry by Wednesday afternoon, while showers and thunderstorms continue to plague the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, with some areas picking up an additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall.

Northeast:

Locally heavy rain and thunder will move into the Northeast, accompanied by a cold front. Rainfall amounts should average 1 to 2 inches with some localized areas getting 3 inches by the time the storm clears the coast.

West:

Some isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorm activity dots the Southwest and the higher elevations of the Northwest in the afternoon; otherwise the region should be mostly sunny with warm temperatures. A fairly strong storm system is expected to move into the Pacific Northwest Thursday and Friday bringing cold temperatures and moisture. Snow levels could dip down to around 7,000 feet in the Northwest mountains Friday. Before this system moves its winds should kick up and could spread existing fires quickly, but eventually the rain and higher humidity should aid firefighting efforts.  (NWS, Media Sources)

California Forest Blaze Spreads Unchecked

The nearly 20,000-acre, Southern California Day Fire threatened Tuesday to cross the Golden State Freeway, stubbornly resisting containment as it advanced for the eighth day. The Day Fire, so named because it broke out on Labor Day, has not damaged any homes as it has burned into the Los Padres National Forest to the west of Interstate 5. But it remained only 25 percent contained. 1,430 firefighters are assigned. It is the largest fire in Southern California.

The fire, which is about 10 miles north of Castaic, California, has burned for eight days and cost more than $7.4 million to combat. Also threatened were the Paradise Ranch mobile home park and a utility corridor, which are both to the east of the I-5, and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary just beyond the southern containment line of the fire. (Media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ, FEMA Region X)

Tropical Activity

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:

At 5:00 AM EDT, the large circulation of Tropical Depression Eight is estimated to be about 255 miles, SW of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.  The depression is moving toward the west near 16 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with some increase in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph, with higher gusts.  The depression could become a tropical storm within 24 hours.

At 5:00 AM EDT, the center of Hurricane Gordon was located about 665 miles NNE of the Leeward Islands. Gordon is moving toward the north near 9 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph, with higher gusts. Gordon is the third hurricane of the 2006 season. Gordon is no threat to land.

Elsewhere, tropical storm formation is not expected through Thursday.

Central and Eastern Pacific

There are no tropical systems but the National Hurricane Center is monitoring a number of tropical waves.

Western Pacific

No tropical systems pose threats to United States territories at this time. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center).

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level – 5
National Fire Activity

• Initial attack activity: Light (103 new fires)
• New large fires: 1
• Large fires contained: 2
• Uncontained large fires: 45
• Area Command Teams: 2
• Type 1 IMTs: 9
• Type 2 IMTs: 17
• Fire Use Teams: 5

Two MAFFS C-130 aircraft deployed to Klamath Falls, OR.
Three MAFFS C-130 aircraft deployed to Boise, ID.

New Zealand and Australia are providing 115 fire specialists and managers to assist with suppression operations, including an additional 24 personnel arriving this week.

The U.S. Army Task Force Blaze, returned to Fort Lewis in Washington Tuesday.

2005 Season: 8,700,000
2006 Season: 8,653,883 acres burned to date

Structure Loss 2005 Season: Primary 258, Commercial 16, Outbuildings 517
Structure Loss 2006 Season year to date: Primary 654, Commercial 54, Outbuildings 1353
(National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)