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National Situation Update: Saturday, November 3, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Southern California Wildfires Update

California OES reports 23 fires with two fires not 100% contained.  Full containment of the Santiago Fire should occur on November 3, 2007.  The Poomacha Fire should be fully contained on November 4, 2007.  Over 500,000 acres have burned within seven counties since October 21; 3,107 structures were destroyed and 511 structures damaged.  There have been seven confirmed fatalities, with 130 injuries as well as 114 firefighters injured.  The American Red Cross (ARC) reports that four ARC managed shelters remain open with a total population of 95.  In addition, as of November 1, 2007, 187 people were sheltered in 13 non-traditional shelters such as state parks and RV parks.

The U.S. Forest Service Southern California Operations Coordination Center has pre-positioned additional out-of-region resources including: air tankers, helicopters, engines and crews in anticipation of high Santa Ana winds this weekend.  (JFO Situation Status Summary, Pasadena, CA and the United States Forest Service)

Southern California Weather Status

Red Flag warnings remain in effect from now until Sunday, November 4, 2007 for all of extreme southwestern California.  Very dry conditions are expected in the area with locally gusty offshore winds. 

The wind event will be much weaker, short lived and more localized than during the recent major fire outbreak. (JFO Situation Status Summary; NWS)

Severe Weather Activity

Former Hurricane Noel Now an Extratropical Cyclone
There are multiple weather warnings and watches along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States due to the remnants of Hurricane Noel, which has transitioned into a strong extratropical low.  The warnings and watches are in effect from 4:00 a.m. EDT Saturday, November 3, 2007 through 5:00 a.m. EST Sunday, November 4, 2007.  Advisories include a Storm Warning, Gale Warnings, High Wind Warnings, Coastal Flood Advisories, and High Surf Advisories.  In addition to the high winds forecast, rainfall amounts will range from one to five inches. (NWS, NOAA)

National Weather

South
 High temperatures will reach the 60s and 70s, with 80s in south Florida.  No significant rain is expected across the drought-impacted Southeast for the next 7 days.

Northeast
Remnants of Hurricane Noel will bring high winds and rain along the coast.  High temperatures will be mainly in the 40s in New England Saturday.

West
High temperatures will range from the 50s across Montana to the 80s and low 90s in the Desert Southwest.

A strong cold front will push southward through the Northwest Sunday, causing some rain and snow showers.  Temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s in the Great Basin and central Rockies, 70s in eastern Colorado ahead of the front and 30s and 40s in northern Montana behind the front.

Midwest
High temperatures will range from the 40s along the Canadian border to the 60s across Kansas, Missouri and Kentucky.  Temperatures will range from the 50s in North Dakota to the 70s in Kansas. 

Sunday and Monday, a strong and very windy cold front will move across the Plains and Midwest.  Lake-effect snow will fall over parts of Michigan on Monday night and Tuesday. (NWS, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico
An area of low pressure centered between Jamaica and Honduras is accompanied by a large area of cloudiness and thunderstorms; development, if any, will be slow to occur as the system drifts west or west-southwestward toward Central America.

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

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings affecting US interests. (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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:52:10 EDT