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National Situation Update: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West: A low pressure trough over the West Coast will produce precipitation over California and Nevada but most of the region will be hot and dry. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the Rockies and the High Plains from Wyoming southward. A few storms over eastern Colorado could turn severe. Isolated dry lightning may produce fires in parts of northern Arizona, the Great Basin, the Sierra Nevada, and southern Oregon. Highs will range from the 60s along the northern and central California coast to over 110 in deserts of California and Arizona. An excessive heat watch has been posted for southwest Washington, and northwest Oregon all the way to the coast. High temperatures are forecast to reach over 100 in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Midwest: A complex low pressure system and associated fronts and troughs will produce heavy downpours, thunderstorms with hail and gusty winds over much of the Upper Midwest to the mid-Mississippi Valley. Some of the storms may produce tornadoes. Precipitation in southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri with its already saturated soil will produce localized flooding. High temperatures are forecast to range from 60s in northern North Dakota and northern Minnesota to the 90s in Ohio and southwest Kansas.

South: Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast for most of the region, Texas and Oklahoma panhandles will get heavy precipitation at the tail end of a trough. A slow moving upper-air disturbance may trigger heavy downpours over eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. High temperatures will range from the 80s to over 100 in southwest Texas.

Northeast: A warm front will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms over northern New York state and parts of New England and, while elsewhere, little or no precipitation is expected. High temperatures will range from the 70s in Maine to the mid- and upper 90s from southern New England to Virginia. (NWS, Media Sources)

Wild Fires

Wild Fires continue to scorch the western states. As many as 41 fires, over 500 acres in size, are burning in 11 States. Extremely high temperatures and the lack of any measurable rain fall are only adding fuel to the already devastated region. The media reports that these fires have become deadly with the death of an individual when he tried to retrieve his personal possessions form his home. Hundreds of families have been evacuated from their homes and many businesses are threatened by the out of control fires. Listed below are four of the largest fires that are blackening the west.

  • The Inyo Complex fire (CA) is near Independence, CA and is 33,973 acres and 15% contained.  Structures remain threatened.
  • The Alabaugh fire is three miles southwest of Hot Springs, South Dakota is 4,890 acres and 20% contained.  Evacuations are in effect, twenty-seven residences and 50 outbuildings have been destroyed. 
  • The Antelope Complex fire (CA) is a new fire located twenty miles northeast of Quincy, CA and is 18,100 acres and 21% contained.  Mandatory evacuations remain in effect.
  • The Milford Flat fire (UT) is three miles north of Milford, UT is 282,287 acres.  It is recorded as the largest fire in its history.  Evacuations are in effect.  I-15 and I-70 closure has been dynamic. (National Incident Information Center, Media Reports)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)  

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Depression 4E is about 700 miles southwest of Baja California. Maximum sustained winds are 35 mph with gusts to 46 mph.  Present movement is toward the northwest 11 mph.  This system is forecast to dissipate within 72 hours.  Based on the current warning Tropical Depression 4E poses no threat to the United States.

Western Pacific:
Typhoon (TY) 04W (Man-Yi) located approximately 230 miles north of Yap, has tracked west-northwestward at 13 mph over the past six hours. Based on the current warning TS 04W will continue to move away from Guam. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

At 1:17 EST a 4.2 Magnitude earthquake at the depth of 86 miles, occurred 155 Miles Southwest of Anchorage Alaska. There were no reports of damage or Tsunami. (NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

  • National Preparedness Level:  4
  • States Most Affected: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon
  • National Fire Activity as of Sunday, July 8, 2007:
    • Initial attack activity: Heavy (245 new fires)
    • New large fires: 7
    • Large fires contained: 11
    • Uncontained large fires: 41
  • Weather Discussion:  Hot temperatures will continue across the West with widespread thunderstorms.  Isolated mainly dry thunderstorms will develop in California, with lingering thunderstorms potential in central Arizona and Utah.  Thunderstorms will spread into the Northwest, Great Basin, and across Arizona.  Wet thunderstorms along the Continental Divide into Southeast Arizona.  Off shore winds west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon.  Gusty winds will continue in portions of Southern California and the extreme southern Great Basin.   The threat of thunderstorms continues in Alaska. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb,  FEMA Region X, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Oklahoma:  Amendment number 1 to FEMA-1712-DR for Oklahoma was approved.  Four counties added for emergency protective measures (Category B). (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:47:11 EDT