Skip to content

National Situation Update: Saturday, August 9, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A cold front moving across Washington, Oregon and Northern California will produce showery precipitation and thunderstorms.  Showers and isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms are expected along the front and will spread eastward through the day. A few of these thunderstorms could turn severe.  Moisture from the Southwest Monsoon will produce scattered thunderstorms over the Four Corners states.  High temperatures will range from 60 along the Pacific Northwest Coast to over 100 in the desert Southwest
Midwest:
A vigorous upper level disturbance and surface cold front will move through the Great Lakes producing scattered strong thunderstorms.  Another disturbance emerging from the central Rockies will produce a thunderstorm complex over much of Nebraska, Kansas and far western Missouri. Localized flooding is possible with these storms.  Isolated thunderstorms are possible from the Dakotas into southern Minnesota and Iowa.  High temperatures Saturday will range from the 60s in Upper Michigan to the low 80s in the Ohio Valley and the upper 80s in western North Dakota and western Nebraska.
South:
Following yesterday's cold frontal passage, much of the region will have warm and dry conditions. However, the tail of the front is stalled over Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana producing thunderstorms.
The Florida peninsula will have isolated thunderstorm activity.  High temperatures will range from the 80s in the Tennessee Valley to low 100s in north-central and southern Texas.
Northeast:
A strong frontal system approaching from over the Great Lakes will produce thunderstorms in western New York and western Pennsylvania later today.  High temperatures will be average or below average, with highs ranging from the 60s in New England to the 80s in the southern Mid-Atlantic. (National Weather Service, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

Nothing significant to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Alaska Volcano Escalates Earthquake Activity

Current volcanic activity from the Kasatochi Volcano, located about 52 miles east of Adak, Alaska and 55 miles west of Atka, in the Andreanof Islands chain has triggered numerous seismic events in the area.
On Friday evening, seismic activity recorded on the Great Sitkin network continues to show elevated levels, with less frequent occurrences of tremor. Ash continues to be emitted, and the height of the ash cloud is likely in excess of 30000 ft at the volcano and downwind. Based on this information, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is elevating the Aviation Color Code to RED, and the current Volcano Alert Level to WARNING.
AVO is now operating 24 hrs / day and monitoring closely.  No reports any damage or injuries. There is a remote possibility that air traffic may be rerouted, but no action is being taken at this time.
Region X will continue to monitor for aftershock activity through the USGS and coordinate with Region X Hazard Mitigation staff to ensure a common operating picture.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Hurricane Hernan
At 5:00 am EDT the center of Hurricane Hernan was located about 970 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Hernan is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph and this motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts.  Weakening is forecast to begin during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.
Elsewhere in the Pacific:
A broad area of low pressure associated with a well-defined tropical wave located a couple hundred miles south of Guatemala, continues to show signs of organization. This system could become a tropical depression during the next day or two and conditions thereafter appear favorable for further development. The system is forecast to move west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph, on a track relatively close to the coast of Mexico.
Another broad area of low pressure located about 550 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo Mexico is producing a large, but disorganized area of cloudiness and thunderstorms. Slow development of this system is possible during the next couple of days as it moves westward at about 15 mph.
An area of low pressure is located about 1,200 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.  While this system is currently producing only limited and disorganized shower activity, slow development is possible during the next couple of days as it moves west- northwestward at about 10 mph.
Central Pacific:
Tropical Storm Kika
Kika is back to tropical storm strength. At 5:00 am EDT the center of Tropical Storm Kika was located about 780 miles south of Honolulu Hawaii and about 985 miles east-southeast of Johnston Island. There is a slight chance Kika could produce tropical storm conditions on Johnston Island in about 72 hours. Kika is moving toward the west near 14 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next couple of days. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center.
Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Seismic activity continues in the Andreanof Islands, Alaska due to volcanic activity in the area. Otherwise, no significant activity to report.  (USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Friday, August 08, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Heavy (422 new fires)
New large fires: 3 (Arkansas, Nevada)
Uncontained large fires: 34
Large fires contained: 2 (Texas)
States with Large fires: AR, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, NC, TX, UT, WA and WY
California remains the most active with 12 large fires and complexes.  424,698 acres have burned throughout the northern part of the state.
Fire Weather Discussion: Thunderstorms are on tap for much of interior west east of the Cascades and Sierras.  Gusty winds are expected over the northern Sierra and western Nevada.  Scattered thundershowers are forecast for Oklahoma, Arkansas and north Texas. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Wildfire - Craig Fire, Butte County, CA: One additional injury reported for a total of five injuries. 2,500 acres burned; 50% containment (no increase).  The fire continues to move north and northeast. Fire crews will continue to improve the containment lines around the fire and are expected to make good progress today.(CAL Fire)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Indiana: Amendment #18 to Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Indiana (FEMA-1766-DR) for flooding was approved August 8, 2008.  The amendment adds Wayne County for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance and emergency protective measures [Category B], limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program).
Illinois:  Amendment #7 to Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Illinois (FEMA-1771-DR) for flooding was approved August 8, 2008.  The amendment established Date River fell below flood stage 6 Aug 2008. 
Wisconsin:  Amendment #15 to Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Wisconsin (FEMA-1768-DR) for flooding was approved August 8, 2008.  The amendment established Date River fell below flood stage 26 July 2008
Texas:  Amendment #2 to Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Texas (FEMA-1780-DR) for Hurricane Dolly was approved August 1, 2008.  The amendment gives notice that the incident period for this disaster is closed effective August 1, 2008.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:34:11 EDT