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National Situation Update: Saturday, September 8, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South
A frontal boundary along the southern Plains will focus flooding rains along and north of the Red River to northern Arkansas. Most of the South will be in the upper 80s and lower 90s through Monday with substantial cooling occurring thereafter. Most of the Southeast will stay dry.

Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms across the interior of the Northeast. Highs into the upper 60s and 70s north and in the 80s to low 90s south.

Midwest
There may be some major flooding from the southern Plains to the Mississippi Valley.  A cold front from the Ohio Valley to Oklahoma, including remnant from Henriette, will trigger locally 3-to-7-inchs or higher rainfall over Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, southern Missouri, northern Arkansas and southern Illinois.

West
Some mountain locations in Montana and Wyoming may see a little wet snow.  Daytime temperatures for Montana and Wyoming in the 40s and 50s. High temperatures in the Desert Southwest will heat up to between 100 and 115.

Special Statement

Mid West Flooding
National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
The area of heaviest rainfall is expected north of a line from southwest Oklahoma to central Missouri. 
The axis of heaviest rainfall is expected to move to the southeast.
(NOAA)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Subtropical Strom Gabrielle
The national hurricane center is issuing advisories of newly-developed subtropical storm Gabrielle located about 385 miles southeast of Cape Lookout North Carolina.
Gabrielle is moving west-northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
Tropical Wave
Shower activity has increased this evening in association with a Tropical Wave located a few hundred miles south of the Cape Verde Islands.  Slow development of this system is possible over the next couple days as it moves westward at about 15 mph.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific:
Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
Tropical Storm Danas
Tropical Storm 11w Danas has tracked generally north-westward over the past 24 hours, and has slowly consolidated during that period as well.
Tropical cyclone activity impacting US interests is not expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A minor earthquake occurred at 6:40 AM EDT on Friday, September 7, 2007. The magnitude 3.1 event occurred 69 miles south of Springfield, Missouri, at a depth of  0.1 miles. No reports of any injuries or damages.  (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:  Montana, Idaho.
National Fire Activity as of Friday, September 7, 2007:
Initial Attack Activity:  Light with 142 new fires.
New large fires:  1
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  30
2007 acres burned to date:  7,266,278
Weather Discussion:  A warm, dry offshore flow is expected over northern California and western Oregon through the weekend. Dry weather will prevail over the Pacific Northwest, Idaho and western Montana the next few days. Southern California will also be dry with an onshore flow. The Southeast will see a gradual increase in shower and thunderstorm activity.  (National Interagency Coordination Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1725-DR-ND was declared on September 7, 2007, for Severe Storms and Tornados from July 15, 2007.  Two counties were approved for Public Assistance.  All counties are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA-1726-DR-ND was declared on September 7, 2007, for Severe Storms and Tornado from August 31, 2007.  One county was approved for Public Assistance.  All counties are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.