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National Situation Update: Friday, October 5, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West:  A complex low pressure system will bring winter conditions to the northern Sierra, the Great Basin and the northern and central Rockies.  Snow levels may drop to near 4000 feet. The Rockies could see snow accumulations of over 1 foot at the higher elevations.   Temperatures will be as much as 5 to 25 degrees below average for the next few days.

Midwest: A warm frontal boundary will produce severe weather across parts of the northern plains and Upper Midwest. The front will produce severe thunderstorms from the Dakotas to western Wisconsin and a few of the thunderstorms could spawn tornadoes right along the front.  South of the warm front high temperatures will reach the 80s to lower 90s during the day.

South: Only scattered rain showers are forecast for the region. Not enough to alleviate the ongoing drought. Temperatures will be above average for with highs in the 80s to low 90s.

Northeast: Under a ridge of high pressure, conditions will be dry and quite warm across the region with morning fog across the Mid Atlantic.  Highs will range from the 60s in Maine to the 80s over the rest of the region. (National Weather Service, Media reports)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

California Sink Hole

October 5, 2007,  the two hundred by two hundred and forty foot by twelve foot deep sink hole in San Diego, causing the slippage of 1 home in the area of Soledad Mountain Road and Palomino Circle is still in the process of being accessed. Per reports this morning there was no further slippage of the land overnight. Currently 9 houses have red tags, 8 houses with yellow tags, and 34 houses with temporary yellow tags.  No injuries have been reported.  There is a 3 inch gas line in the sink hole, with no leaks; however, the land is still unstable and still moving.

San Diego Gas and Electric has activated their EOC in response to this event. The County has not activated their EOC.  American Red Cross opened one shelter and provided meals to approximately 120 emergency workers.  The shelter has been closed. The Governor is considering requesting a Federal Declaration.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
Shower and thunderstorm activity remains minimal in association with a non-tropical low pressure area in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Development (if any) of this system is expected to be slow to occur.

A large area of disturbed weather over the western Atlantic Ocean and portions of the Bahamas is associated with an elongated low pressure system centered about 150 miles northeast of the Bahamas.  This system remains disorganized and upper-level winds are not particularly favorable for development

A weak area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave is located about 975 miles east of the Southern Windward Islands and is producing some shower and thunderstorm activity. Upper-level winds are not favorable for tropical cyclone development.

The remnants of tropical depression Melissa are located about 950 miles southeast of Bermuda. Significant redevelopment is not expected.

Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central and Western Pacific:
Super Typhoon 17W (Krosa) is approximately 420 miles south- southwest of Naha, Okinawa, Japan and poses no threat to United States territories. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Friday, October 5, 2007 at 3:17 am EDT an earthquake measuring 6.3 struck about 488 miles south of Suva, Fuji.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated.

Nothing significant activity to report within the US.(USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  1
States Most Affected: None.
National Fire Activity:  as of Thursday, October 4, 2007:
Initial Attack Activity:  Light with 117 new fires.
New large fires:  3
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 2
2007 acres burned to date: 8,241,908
Current Situation:  Much of the West will continue to be under the influence of a large low pressure system. Dry and windy conditions will prevail in southern California and southern Nevada. The East will continue to see unseasonably warm temperatures with scattered showers across the southeast coastal states.   (National Interagency Coordination Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:48:43 EDT