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National Situation Update: Monday, June 2, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Locally heavy rain is forecast for the northern Plains today. Thunderstorms are predicted over South Dakota and Nebraska Monday afternoon, then into Iowa, Missouri and Kansas by Monday evening. The system will continue into the mid-Mississippi Valley Monday night and into Tuesday, with high winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes possible.
South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast from northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee southeastward into Florida. Some of these storms may be severe.
West
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted for northern and eastern Washington State, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Severe thunderstorms may develop over eastern Colorado and eastern Wyoming late on Monday, which may trigger some coastal rains in Washington and Oregon toward evening.
Northeast
Some showers or thunderstorms may develop in parts of Upstate New York and northern New England. (NWS, Media Sources)

An Abbreviated History of Naming Hurricanes

For several hundred years, hurricanes in the West Indies were often named after the particular Saint's  day on which the hurricane occurred. Later, latitude-longitude positions were used; however, this method was cumbersome for communications. Distinctive names proved quicker and less subject to error. Using women's names became the practice during World War II, following the use of a woman's name for a storm in the 1941 novel "Storm" by George R. Stewart. The practice of using female names exclusively ended in 1978 when names from both genders were used to designate storms in the eastern Pacific. A year later, male and female names were included in lists for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Storm names are used to facilitate geographic referencing, for warning services, for legal issues, and to reduce confusion when two or more tropical cyclones occur at the same time. The name lists, which have been agreed upon at international meetings of the World Meteorological Organization, have a French, Spanish, Dutch, and English flavor because hurricanes affect other nations and are tracked by the public and weather services of many countries. The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not always included because of the scarcity of names beginning with those letters. Names associated with storms that have caused significant death and/or damage are usually retired from the list. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center) www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/basics.shtml

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean
Tropical Storm Arthur:
The National Hurricane Center has issued its last advisory on Tropical Depression Arthur, which is dissipating inland over southeastern Mexico. However, the remnants of Arthur could produce additional heavy rains over portions of Belize, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico during the next couple of days. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, specially in mountainous terrain.No further tropical cyclone formation is expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No activity affecting U.S. Territories is forecast during the next 48 hours.  (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Nebraska: The State has requested IA and PA PDAs to begin today, June 2, 2008 for severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes that occurred on May 22 and continuing, and the May 29 tornadoes in Buffalo County. The PDAs will be conducted in 28 counties and will be supported by FEMA Region II (and will be a JFO turnkey operation by Region II, if declared).
Indiana: PDAs are ongoing.
Iowa: PDAs are ongoing.
Missouri: A PDA for Newton County, Missouri has been requested to begin early this week. The JFO will coordinate.
Kansas: The Region received a request for PDAs in 30 counties as a result of the storms occurring May 22-27, 2008. No start date in June has been determined. (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, June 1, 2008:

  • Initial attack activity: Light (99 new fires)
  • New large fires: 1
  • Large fires contained: 1
  • Uncontained large fires: 4

Weather Discussion:
Warm and dry conditions along with gusty winds will continue across the southwest quarter of the country.

Red Flag Warnings will be in effect on Monday for the eastern Plains of New Mexico, southwest and south-central Utah, and the Guadalupe Mountains in West Texas. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:35:51 EDT