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National Situation Update: Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
With high pressure ridging in off the Pacific only a few light showers are forecast for the Pacific Northwest Coast. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are also forecast for Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.   Strong, gusty winds are forecast for much of the Great Basin, California and the Southwest. These winds along with high temperatures (80s) and low humidity will produce extremely critical wildfire conditions for New Mexico and West Texas.

Midwest:
The stationary front will continue to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms over much of the Midwest and Great Plains.  An area of severe thunderstorms will extend from the central Plains to the Mid Atlantic. The thunderstorm activity will continue into the late evening. High temperatures are expected to range from the 50s in Minnesota to the mid-90s in southwest Kansas.

South:
Under a ridge of high pressure, the Region will continue to be dry and unseasonably warm.   Isolated afternoon thunderstorms are forecast for North Carolina and the Florida Peninsula.   High temperatures will be well above seasonal averages in the Region with highs largely in the 90s. The gusty southwest winds over West Texas may produce temperatures near 110.

Northeast:
The stalled front will produce showers and thunderstorms over the entire Region. A few of the thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic region could be severe. An inch or more of precipitation is expected along the Mason-Dixon Line.   Highs will range from the 50s north of the front in New England up to 90 along the Virginia-North Carolina border.    (NWS, Media Sources)

Severe Weather Outbreak

Last night (Tuesday 3 June) National Weather Service had preliminary reports of 16 tornadoes in an area stretching from Missouri, through Central Illinois and Indiana to eastern Ohio.
The Indiana EOC (Dispatch) has confirmed that Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center (CAJMTC) in Edinburgh (Johnson County), IN was hit with possibly three tornados. The EOC confirmed damages to one building with no reported injuries at this time. CAJMTC JOC has also confirmed that a tornado has touched down and are investigating damages. The center has no power at this time. County EOC staff are investigating the possibility of more damage in the area. Indiana State EOC has been activated.
Local Damage Assessments continue. 
No request for Federal Assistance at this time. (FEMA HQ, National Guard, National Weather Service).

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2677-TX was issued for the Rein Street Fire near Killeen, TX. The Fire has burned more than 275 acres and there have been two fire trucks destroyed with 200 residences threatened. The fire is 0% contained.  There is no estimated date for full containment. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
The low over the southeastern coast of Mexico has weakened but widespread heavy rains are expected over El Salvador, Guatemala and Southeast Mexico.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No activity. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. EDT, an earthquake measuring 4.5 struck about 65 miles south-southwest of Nikolski, AK, and approximately 974 west-southwest of Anchorage, AK, in the Aleutian Islands, at a depth of 18.1 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated. (USGS, Media Sources)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Nebraska:  FEMA State Liaison on site at the Nebraska SEOC.  IOF is in a MERS MEOV at the SEOC.
Indiana:  IA PDAs for Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes that occurred on May 29, in Marion and Hancock Counties, are scheduled to begin June 4.
Colorado:  ESF-14 activated, and ERT Staff deployed, for FEMA-1762-DR-CO.

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, June 03, 2008:
Initial attack activity: Light (184 new fires)
New large fires: 3
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 7
Red Flag Warnings will be in effect today for New Mexico, west Texas, southern Colorado, northern Arizona, and southern Utah. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Louisiana:  The Governor has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for IA for six (6) Parishes and Hazard Mitigation statewide, resulting from severe storms, flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes that occurred May 13, 2008 across OK, LA and AR.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:35:47 EDT