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National Situation Update: Sunday, July 8, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:  The region will be hot and dry with the exception of isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms. High temperatures in the Pacific Northwest should be close to seasonal averages today with readings in the 70s and 80s. Tomorrow temperatures will be up to 10 degrees above average with readings mainly in the 80s and lower 90s. Even warmer temperatures are expected through the mid-week period with highs above 100 degrees possible in a few locations. No relief for the heat is expected for the Southwest.

Midwest:  A cold front along the Canadian Border will move South over the upper Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes today and the northern Ohio Valley and middle Mississippi Valley tomorrow. Scattered thunderstorms, some possibly severe, are possible along the cold front as it pushes through. High  temperatures  (90s with a few 100s) will continue to in the Midwest through Monday until displaced by the  cold front.

South: An upper level disturbance moving through the South is keeping temperatures below average and will bring rain to a drought stricken area. This disturbance should move through northern Alabama and northern Georgia today. Some scattered thunderstorms are still possible in eastern Texas today and tomorrow, but the remainder of the flooded areas should see minimal rainfall. However, Later in the week, a front could stall across the Kansas-Oklahoma area and produce locally heavy precipitation.

Northeast:  Part of the record-breaking hot air mass from the western U.S. has broken off and is moving east ahead of the next cold front. Temperatures will be soaring over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic through Tuesday. Highs are forecast to be in the 90s across southern New York and southern New England and the low 90s to 100s in the Mid-Atlantic through Monday. The cold front now over the Midwest will move into the region tomorrow night producing locally heavy thunderstorms.(NWS, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2706-CA was approved on 7 July for the Inyo Fire Complex near the community of Big Pine and Independence, Inyo County, California. 20,000 acres involved, Fire is 0% contained. 150 evacuated mandatory and 2 shelters open.  200 residences threatened in Big Pine and 300 in Independence, 100 businesses between both communities threatened.  One home destroyed.  Major power substation, camp grounds, fish hatchery threatened.  Actually four fires in the county comprising this fire complex.  Fire is characterized as extreme behavior.  Very dry brush and brown.  Entire county fire capability committed.  20 strike teams on the ground and an aircraft requested upon first light.  County has requested aid from adjacent county.

FMAG-2707-UT was approved on 7 July, 2007 for the Milford Flats Fire near the communities of Kanosh Meadows, Fillmore, Flowell, Holden and Delta in Millard County, Utah.; The fire started 06 July 1545PST, and has passed through the town of Cove Fort with one home destroyed and 20 structures with some damage. A mandatory evacuation of 70 people has occurred. There is a geo-thermal plant next to Cove Fort with 20 structers threatened. The fire is within 3 miles of Kanosh having 270 structures and about 13 miles from Meadows with 150 structures. Voluntary evacuations are in place for Kanosh, Meadows, Fillmore, Flowell, Holden and Delta. It is approximately 50 miles from Kanosh to the town of Delta. Interstate I-15 is closed from Beaver in the south to Scipio in the north almost 100 miles due to fire and smoke. The fire is zero percent contained on Federal, State and private lands. Resources are 4 tanker planes, 3 helos with buckets, the State Ploce, local fire departments of 100 men and six engines. A type 1 Team has been requested.

FMAG-2708-CA was approved on 8 July, 2007 for the Canyon Fire near the communities of Agua Dulce and Vasquez Rocks, in the County of Los Angles CA. 500 acres burned The fire started 07 July 1430PST by lightning strike, and is threatening Agua Dulce and Vasquez with a total population of 8000 with 300 single family homes with the fire outside the homes. A mandatory evacuation has begun with 500 evacuated and 4 shelters are open. A major power transmission line is in the path of the fire. The fire is on State lands and there is zero percent containment. Resources committed are 13 strike teams, 23 single resource teams of 75 engines, 4 fixed wing and 7 helicopters.

FMAG-2709-NV was approved on 8 July for the Hungry Valley Fire near the community of Spanish Acres, in the County of Washoe NV. Involving 900 acres.The fire started 07 July 4:30 PM PST, by an unknown source even though lightning storms had been in the general area.  The fire threatens 300 homes with a population of 900. The state has no mandatory evacuation plan so all evacuations are voluntary, with no know number evacuated , however State Police are assisting. An industrial park and airfield are in the path of the fire and Eagle Canyon Road was closed due to smoke. There is zero percent containment on this fire. Resources committed are air tankers, single teams and bulldozers preparing firebreaks. (FEMA HQ)  

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
A large well-organized low pressure area centered about 725 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California continues to show signs of development. Environmental conditions appear to be favorable for this system to develop into a tropical depression on Sunday as it moves west-northwestward at about 15 mph.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
Tropical Storm (TS) 04W located approximately 400 miles south-southeast of Guam has tracked northwestward at 11 knots over the past six hours. Based on the current warning TS 04W will pass about 280 miles southwest of Guam. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

An earthquake occurred at 5:17 am EDT on Sunday, July 8, 2007. The magnitude 4.9 event occurred in the Pacific 92 miles south of False Pass, Alaska, at a depth of 20 miles. No tsunami was generated.(NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

• National Preparedness Level:   3
  
• States Most Affected: Arizona, California, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon
  
• National Fire Activity as of Thursday, July 5, 2007:
  
  • Initial attack activity: Heavy (471new fires)
  • New large fires: 33
  • Large fires contained: 4
  • Uncontained large fires: 45
    
• Weather Discussion: Very hot, dry and unstable conditions will continue in the west.  Thunderstorms, some of them dry, are expected today over portions of the Four Corner states, the Great Basin, Oregon, northern California, Montana, and Wyoming.  Gusty winds are expected over the interior of Southern California across the extreme southern Great Basin and northwest Arizona.  The northern and central interior of Alaska will see hot weather with very low humidity and widespread thunderstorms in the southern interior. The southeast will have scattered thundershowers.  (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb,  FEMA Region X, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)