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National Situation Update: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest: Parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley areas will see plenty of rain today. More showers and thunderstorms are in store for much of the Plains and upper Midwest, with southeastern South Dakota, Nebraska, and southern Minnesota southeastward to Illinois, southern Indiana and Kentucky as the areas most likely to see storms. The thunderstorms will continue on Thursday from the northern and central Plains to the Great Lakes.
South: Showers and thunderstorms are forecast from Kentucky and Tennessee to the Carolinas.  Temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above average with highs in the upper 90s and 100s over Texas and Oklahoma. The Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Valley will also see highs in the upper 90s with Tallahassee, Florida possibly reaching 100. Heat index values will be in the 100s.
Northeast:  Rain is expected in the Northeast today into Thursday. The rain will spread into western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to the mid-Atlantic region late today.
West:  Scattered showers are forecast for the Pacific Northwest. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are also expected through the Great Basin, Rockies, and adjacent High Plains. The storms in the Rockies and adjacent high Plains should continue into Thursday.

Space Weather Outlook

Space Weather Advisory Outlook #09- 24
2009 June 16 at 10:33 a.m. MDT (2009 June 16 1633 UTC)

  • Summary for June 8-14 No space weather storms were detected.
  • Outlook for June 17-23 No space weather storms are expected.  (NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center, SWPC)

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:
An area of low pressure located 350 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico has the potential to become a tropical depression during the next 24-48 hours as it is moves slowly west-northwestward. There is a high chance 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 Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at 3:08 am EDT, an earthquake measuring 5.4 occurred 57 miles east of Adak, AK at a depth of 39.9 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami was generated.
On Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at 3:15 am EDT, an earthquake measuring 4.2 occurred 68 miles east-southeast of Adak, AK at a depth of 9.8 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami was generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  1
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, June 16 2009:

  • Initial attack activity:  Light (97 new fires)
  • New large fires:  0
  • Large fires contained:  2
  • Uncontained large fires:  6
  • States affected:  AK, AZ & NM. 
     (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, NGB)

Disaster Declaration Activity

  • On June 16, 2009, the President approved Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1845-DR-AR for the State of Arkansas as a result of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, that occurred April 27, 2009, and continuing. This Declaration provides Public Assistance for 37 counties including Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.
  • On June 16, 2009, the President approved Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1844-DR-SD for the State of South Dakota as a result of Severe Storms and Flooding, that occurred March 11, 2009, and continuing. This Declaration provides Public Assistance for 14 counties, and the portions of the Cheyenne River Reservation and Standing Rock Reservation that lie within the designated counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide including Tribal Reservations.(FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-Jun-2009 08:45:33 EDT