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National Situation Update: Friday, May 29, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

South
A weak cold front, extending from western North Carolina to the Florida Panhandle this morning, will push off the Southeast Coast and southward into the Florida Peninsula by Saturday.  A line of thunderstorms moving ahead of the front will produce heavy rain, a few damaging wind gusts and hail.
Thunderstorms from the Ohio Valley could move southeastward into eastern Tennessee, north Georgia and the Carolinas Sunday and Monday.  Moderate Flooding continues along the Mississippi River from Arkansas City to the Red River Landing.
Midwest
Saturday into early Sunday, a Canadian cold front will quickly drop into the Plains and move toward northern Missouri and the Ohio River. Showers and thunderstorms, some possibly severe, will precede the front.  Major to Moderate Flooding continues at river gauges along the James River in South Dakota, though levels are slowly falling.  Major to Moderate Flooding continues along the Illinois River from Henry to Valley City, though levels at all gauges are continuing to fall.
Northeast
A cold front will continue advancing eastward from western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia today and will move off the East Coast by early Saturday.  Showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop ahead of the front. Some thunderstorms could turn severe from southeast Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey to eastern Virginia.  
West
Over the next 3 days, isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms are possible across parts of southern and eastern Oregon, northern California and from the Sierras to the Rockies.  Highs today and Saturday will be 10 to 20 degrees above average across the Northwest with the beginnings of a downward trend by Sunday. (National Weather Service, various media sources)

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak Update – May 28, 2009

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - USA
The H1N1 Influenza Outbreak continues to grow in the United States. As of 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 28, 2009, the CDC reported 8,975 confirmed and probable cases in 48 states including the District of Columbia. The CDC now reports 12 confirmed fatalities in the United States, with a new fatality being reported in the state of Illinois.
The first confirmed infection of H1N1 Flu virus has been reported in Alaska and Wyoming. 
H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - International
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, there were 14,557 confirmed cases in 48 countries including 96 fatalities. Mexico has 4,541 confirmed cases and 83 fatalities.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
At 5:00 a.m. AST (EDT) on May 29, 2009, the center of Tropical Depression One was located about 260 miles south-southeast of Nantucket, MA and about 420 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The depression is moving toward the east-northeast near 15 mph and an increase in forward speed is expected over the next 24 to 36 hours.  The depression is not expected to threaten any land areas.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts and estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).  The depression is expected to become extratropical in the next 24 hours as it moves over colder waters and is expected to weaken or dissipate by Saturday. 

Eastern Pacific:
No activity.

Western Pacific:
No activity affecting US territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

The USGS reported that a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred at 5:32 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 28, 2009 off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico, 145 miles WSW of Manzanillo, Mexico at a depth of 6.2 miles. This earthquake was followed by a magnitude 5.0 earthquake at 6:57 p.m. EDT close to the location of the earlier earthquake, 140 miles WSW of Manzanillo at a depth of 28.7 miles. A third, 5.1 magnitude earthquake, occurred at 9:04 p.m. EDT, 160 miles WSW of Manzanillo at a depth of 15.6 miles.  The earthquakes occurred in a seismically active area. There have been no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami advisories were issued.


The USGS reported that, at 4:24 a.m. EDT, Thursday, May 28, 2009, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred offshore from Honduras, 39 miles NE of Roatan, Islas de la Bahia, Honduras at a depth of 6.2 miles. There were no preliminary reports of damage or injury and no tsunami was generated.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  1
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, May 28, 2009:
Initial attack activity:  Light (114 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained:  0
Uncontained large fires:  4
Snowshoe Fire at McGrath, AK:
21,760 acres; 0% contained
Weather conditions to aid firefighters
Crews continue to actively protect cabin sites
No evacuations
Structures remain threatened
No request for federal assistance
Fire Weather: A low pressure trough will move into the Great Lakes today as a high pressure ridge strengthens in the West.  Thunderstorms, mainly wet, will develop across portions of the West today.  Isolated dry storms are possible at lower elevations in California, southeast Oregon and Idaho.  Widespread showers and thunderstorms will blanket the East.  Cooler temperatures and showers will accompany a storm system moving across Alaska. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Missouri amended the major disaster declaration request for a severe storm system that generated high winds, hail, tornadoes, heavy rain, flooding, & flash flooding from May 8-16, 2009.  The Governor previously requested Individual Assistance for 38 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The Governor is now amending his request to include Public Assistance for 46 counties.(FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:24:49 EDT