National Situation Update: Sunday, June 14, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest: A stalled front south of the Midwest along with upper-level disturbances is continuing to move out of the west and will bring thunderstorm complexes.

Storms will continue to develop and track southeastward with excessive rain and a threat of severe weather from the Plains into Missouri and the Lower Ohio Valley today and Monday. This severe threat will include thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail and even tornadoes.

The possibility of thunderstorms and heavy rain moves northward and eastward Tuesday and Wednesday before moving eastward later in the week.

South: Showers and thunderstorms, some severe, will move over western Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and will extend into the Carolinas and Georgia.

Multiple thunderstorms will cause localized flash flooding from the Ozarks to northern Alabama. Florida will continue to see isolated thunderstorms, especially from the afternoon into late evening today and Monday.

Temperatures will be above average ranging from the 80s in Tennessee and North Carolina to between 95 and 108 over much of Texas.

Thunderstorms remain a threat over parts of the Southeast.

Northeast: Rain and thunderstorms will move across the Northeast through Monday as upper-level disturbances continue to track eastward across the region. There is a possibility of localized flooding and flash flooding due to heavy rain.

Showers moving from the Ohio Valley into western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and southwestern Virginia are expected midweek.

West: A large upper-level disturbance will move from the West into the north-central states over the next two days, keeping the possibility for showers and thunderstorms to move into parts of Washington, Oregon and the northern two-thirds of California into Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

Disturbances will continue moving in off the Pacific Tuesday through Thursday, with the possibility for more thunderstorms. (National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Severe Storms and Flooding Recovery – Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Texas severe storms (Jun 10-11) recovery continues
Flood warnings remain in effect for Trinity River at Dallas affecting Dallas County
Less than 40,000 customers without power (reported by ONCOR Power)
All shelters closed
Thunderstorm activity continues through Saturday night
No request for Federal assistance (FEMA OPS Brief Summary, June 13)

Severe Thunderstorms from the Southern Plains to the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys

Major Points: A long-lived and rapidly moving thunderstorm complex on Friday produced damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes from the southern Plains to the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.

Additional severe storms developed Friday evening across north Texas, as well as portions of Colorado, Oklahoma and Arkansas, producing large hail and a few tornadoes.

There was widespread tree and structural damage, with several injuries reported.
Another severe weather outbreak is expected Saturday across portions of the Southern Plains.

Event: A thunderstorm complex which initially formed over southeastern Colorado Thursday night turned into a long lived derecho (pronounced day-RAY-cho, a widespread and usually fast-moving windstorm associated with thunderstorms) that produced widespread wind damage and large hail, as well as isolated tornadoes, as it moved rapidly across southwestern Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and into Alabama at a forward speed in excess of 50 mph.

In addition, thunderstorms also developed Friday evening along a dry line in northern Texas, and well behind the derecho across Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arkansas, producing large hail and a few tornadoes.(NWS Storm Prediction Center)

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:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected 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 Saturday, June 13, 2008 at 12:12 pm EDT an earthquake measuring 4.9 struck about 64 miles north northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico at a depth of 5.5 miles. There were no reports of damage or injuries and 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 Saturday, June 13, 2009:

Initial attack activity: Light (60 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 8
States affected: AK, AZ, NM & TX.

Windy, warm, and dry conditions will continue over west Texas and southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity