National Situation Update: Monday, June 1, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
Weather in the region remains unsettled. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast for Oregon, Northern California, the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin and the Rockies. Temperatures will be well above average in the Pacific Northwest. Highs will reach the 70s and 80s in the lower elevations into tomorrow. The Alaskan Panhandle will also be unseasonably warm with Juneau reaching the 80s by the middle of the week.
Midwest:
A frontal system draped across the northern portion of the country from the Great Lakes to the Northern Rockies will produce showers and thunderstorms from the Central Plains to the Great Lakes and northern Ohio Valley. The possibility exists for severe thunderstorms (gusty winds, hail and even tornadoes) from Nebraska and northern Kansas eastward through the mid-Mississippi Valley to Ohio.
South:
The Region will be generally dry with highs in the 90s. Precipitation will be limited to rain in the Carolinas and scattered thunderstorm activity.
Northeast:
This morning will start off unseasonably cold under high pressure. Frost and freeze warnings/advisories are in place from northern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to New England. By midday, the frontal system moving in from the Great Lakes will begin to spread precipitation into western Pennsylvania and western New York. The precipitation will move into New England by this evening. (National Weather Service, various media sources)

Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins

Today, June 1, marks the beginning of the official Atlantic Hurricane season.

The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook is calling for near normal season with 9-14 named storms, 4-7 hurricanes and 1-3 major hurricanes. It's important to note that NOAA does not make seasonal hurricane landfall predictions. A complete copy of the report can be found at www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml.

There have been a number of significant changes to the text and graphical products produced by the National Hurricane Center. See: www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nhc_new_2009.pdf for a complete list.

Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. The list is now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological organization (WMO). The 2009 season names are shown in the table below:

Atlantic
Ana	Bill	Claudette	Danny	Erika	Fred
Grace	Henri	Ida	Joaquin	Kate	Larry
Mindy	Nicholas	Odette	Peter	Rose	Sam
Teresa	Victor	Wanda

(NOAA, National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, Climate Prediction Center)

H1N1 Influenza Outbreak Update – May 30, 2009

H1N1 Flu Outbreak - USA
The H1N1 Influenza Outbreak continues to grow in the United States. As of Saturday, May 30, 2009, the CDC reported 10,053 (+1,078) confirmed and probable cases in 50 states including the District of Columbia. The CDC now reports 17 (+2) confirmed fatalities in the United States.
H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - International
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Saturday, May 30, 2009, there were 15,510 (+2,112) confirmed cases in 53 countries including 99 fatalities. Mexico has 4,910 confirmed cases and 85 (+2) fatalities.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
The shower and thunderstorm activity, associated with an area of disturbed weather several hundred miles south of Acapulco, diminished last night. There is a low chance (less than 30 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No activity. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Monday, June 1, 2009 from 12:33 - 12:35 am EDT two earthquakes measuring 4.5 and 5.0 occurred approx. 200 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, at depths of 20.5 and 21.7 miles. There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, May 31, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (132 new fires)
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 5

Broken Snowshoe Fire near McGrath, AK:
There are 25,757 acres involved with 16% contained. Light precipitation has created moderate fire behavior. There are 295 personnel assigned to this fire. Structure protection continues. Native corporate land with high value timber and cultural concerns is threatened. No request for FEMA fire fighting assets. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity