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National Situation Update: Friday, October 19, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

Midwest
A low-pressure system producing high winds will move from the Upper Midwest into Canada as a cold front moves east of the Appalachians.  Showers are expected to remain in the northern Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes.  Highs will range from the upper 40s over northern Minnesota to the 70s in Kansas and Kentucky.

South
The cold front is expected to move from the Appalachians and Florida Panhandle toward the Atlantic Coast, resulting in more thunderstorms.  Some of the storms could contain damaging wind gusts or an isolated tornado.  High temperatures should range from the 70s over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and western North Carolina to the upper 80s and low 90s over Texas and the Florida Peninsula.

Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms, some bringing damaging wind gusts or an isolated tornado, will advance through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic ahead of the cold front.  High temperatures are expected to be in the 70s, about 15 degrees above the seasonal average.  Temperatures should stay above average through the weekend.

West
A second powerful storm system in the Pacific Northwest is forecast to bring heavy rain to western Washington, western Oregon and northern California.  The coastal range and lower edge of the Cascades could see as much as 6 inches of rain.  Showers will spread inland across the northern Great Basin and into the northern Rockies.  Highs will range from the 40s and 50s in the Pacific Northwest to the 80s and lower 90s in the Southwest. (National Weather Service, Media reports)

Tornado Activity

Missouri
A line of severe storms moved across Missouri Wednesday afternoon and evening causing heavy rains, damaging winds and tornadoes.  According to the Missouri Emergency Management Agency (EMA), in Monroe County two people were killed when high winds struck a mobile home six miles northeast of Paris, MO.  The National Weather Service confirmed an F2 tornado in Paris.  The Missouri EMA has received no requests for assistance.

Florida
On Thursday, October 18, 2007, several Tornados touched down in downtown Pensacola, FL.  According to local media sources, the storm ripped roofs off buildings, snapped trees and downed power lines.  Florida Emergency Operations have confirmed in Escambia County, FL that four houses have been destroyed, 24 houses received major damage, 58 houses received minor damage, and 2700 customers in Escambia County are without power.  There are no reports of injuries.  A shelter was opened at 2:00 p.m. CDT, coordinated by the American Red Cross (ARC).  ARC reported that eight people are being sheltered at this time.  Food will be provided for up to 1,000 people.  The storms caused forecasters to issue several severe weather warnings, including more tornado warnings.  The severe weather was expected to clear out of the area Friday. (Florida Emergency Operations Center, Media Sources)

Update - Bomb Threat, Portland, OR

On Thursday, October 18, 2007, the Portland Joint Field Office (JFO) reported a bomb-sniffing police K-9 alerted on a vehicle in the parking lot.  The building was evacuated, and local law enforcement responded.  Oregon Fusion Center reported the vehicle was searched and cleared.  At 4:50 p.m. PDT, security was reestablished and the JFO was opened for operations.  The incident is now closed.

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Eastern and Central Pacific:
Tropical Storm KIKO
At 2:00 a.m. PDT, the center of Tropical Storm KIKO was located about 165 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.  KIKO is moving toward the northwest near 3 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.  During the next day or so the center of KIKO is forecast to remain just offshore and move roughly parallel to the Pacific coast of Mexico.  Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.  Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.  The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb.  Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Virginia
On October 18, 2007, Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine declared a statewide emergency and enacted a ban on open fires beginning today.  The statewide burning ban is the result of drought conditions that have created a serious risk of widespread and dangerous forest fires in every region of the Commonwealth. (Virginia Department of Emergency Management, FEMA Regions, HQ)

Oklahoma
Oklahoma disaster FEMA-1718-DR has been amended to include the additional counties of Ellis and Latimer for Public Assistance. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:47:42 EDT