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National Situation Update: Friday, July 3, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant Weather

West:
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the majority of western Washington from noon today until midnight PDT Sunday.
South:
Thunderstorms are possible in portions of the Gulf Coast region and the Florida Peninsula.  Heavy rain over the last several days has raised the river levels to above Flood Stage for several rivers throughout the region.  Flood Warnings have been issued for rivers in southern Louisiana and western Florida. 
Midwest:
Low pressure moving into the region will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms for the Upper Midwest and upper Great Lakes areas.  Flood Warnings continue along the Illinois River in central Illinois.
Northeast:
Thunderstorms are possible in New York and New England with some extending down to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Flash Flood Watches have been issued for portions of east-central New York, southern Vermont, southern New Hampshire, western Massachusetts, northwestern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island through late this evening.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
A non-tropical area of low pressure located about 1,100 miles west-southwest of the Azores is producing showers and thunderstorms that are displaced to the east of the center due to strong upper-level winds. These winds are expected to remain unfavorable and further development of this system, if any, will be slow to occur as it moves generally eastward near 10 mph.  There is less than a 30 percent chance of this system becoming a tropical or subtropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific:
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday afternoon.
Western Pacific 
No activity.  (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No significant earthquake activity in the United States or its territories. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  1
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, July 2, 2009:

  • Initial attack activity:  Moderate (213 new fires)
  • New large fires:  2
  • Large fires contained:  2
  • Uncontained large fires:  2
  • States affected:  CA, CO & AL

(National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1850-DR today for Illinois as a result of severe storms, flooding and tornadoes May 8-9, 2009.  The declaration provides Public Assistance for five counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 06-Jul-2009 08:19:41 EDT