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National Situation Update: Thursday, October 23, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Warm, dry weather is forecast for most of the Western U.S.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for portions of southern California due to gusty northeast winds and very low relative humidity.  Wind Advisories are in effect for sections of southern California.  Surface high pressure over the Great Basin will continue to generate gusty Santa Ana winds across the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through this morning.  Frost Advisories and Freeze Watches have been issued for portions of southwest Oregon, Colorado and New Mexico.
Midwest:
Light snow is forecast to continue this morning across Nebraska and Kansas and then taper off later today as the storm system weakens and moves eastward.  Heavy rain and gusty wind are possible in parts of the mid-Mississippi Valley.  An intense low pressure system over central Kansas will continue to produce heavy snowfall combined with northwest winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.  Some areas could receive up to ten inches of snow.  A Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 7:00 p.m. CDT today for several counties in northwest Kansas and central Nebraska.  Winter Strom Warnings and Advisories are in effect for several counties in Kansas and central Nebraska.  Wind Advisories are in effect for areas in southwestern Kansas.  Flood Warnings have been issued for rivers in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and Missouri
South:
Heavy rain is possible across parts of the lower Mississippi valley due to a cold front moving slowly through the region.  Thunderstorms (some severe) are possible in southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle.  Wind Advisories are in effect for portions of Texas and South Carolina.  Several Frost Advisories and Freeze Warnings are in effect throughout the region.
Northeast:
Dry, chilly weather is forecast for most of the region with subfreezing temperatures in parts of northern Maine.  Freeze Watches are in effect for portions of New York and northern Maine. (NOAA; National Weather Service; Various Media Sources)

Federal / State Response for Hurricane Omar:

FEMA Region II:

  • Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) is activated at Level III
  • ERT-As deployed to Puerto Rico (PR) and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)

U.S. Virgin Islands (VITEMA):

  • All IA and PA PDAs have been completed
  • Power restoration continues
  • VITEMA continues to report no limiting factors or shortfall of resources  (FEMA Region II)

Salders Ditch Fire - New Jersey

  • State EOC is activated at Level III
  • The fire is currently 30 percent contained and 1,800 acres have burned within the Wharton State Forest
  • No injuries or fatalities have been reported
  • Initially, there was a precautionary evacuation of four structures; residents have been allowed to return to their homes 
  • A section of state highway 206 will remain closed until 7:00 a.m. EDT October 23 due to smoke
  • There are no additional reported threats to communities or infrastructure
  • No Federal Assistance has been requested

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
Area 1
A broad area of surface low pressure located about 450 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.  Upper-level winds are forecast to become less favorable for development over the next couple of days as this system moves slowly west-northwestward.

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

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, October 22, 2008:

  • National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
  • Initial attack activity: Light (74 new fires)
  • New large fires: 1
  • Uncontained large fires: 2
  • Large fires contained: 0
  • States with large fires: CA

Fire Weather: A large low pressure system and surface cold front will move into the northwest quarter of the country today.  Precipitation will spread across the Northwest and northern Idaho with windy conditions over much of the West.  Above normal temperatures and low relative humidity will return to southern California as the flow turns offshore by afternoon.  Low relative humidity will continue over much of the East.   (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a major disaster declaration on October 22, 2008, for the state of Arkansas (FEMA-1804-DR) as a result of Tropical Storm Ike.  The declaration is for 16 counties for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  (FEMA HQ)  

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:32:06 EDT