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National Situation Update: Thursday, July 16, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:                                                                  
Showers and a few thunderstorms are possible over the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi Valley today. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are also possible over the Ohio Valley and middle Mississippi Valley. A few of the thunderstorms could become severe with damaging wind gusts or hail.

South:
Thunderstorm activity will continue to move across the lower Mississippi Valley, the southeast, and Florida over the next few days. North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Florida will see the most concentrated thunderstorm activity. A few severe cells may occur across Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma producing hail and gusty winds. Temperatures will cool off a little in Oklahoma today and in Texas by Friday due to the increased thunderstorm activity. By Saturday the highs in most areas will drop into the 90s instead of the 100s.

West:
The high pressure ridge that caused temperatures to get into the 100s in the southern Plains and Texas the last couple of weeks has now moved into the west. Temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above average with highs from 100 to 115 over the interior deserts of the southwest.

Northeast:
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the region today. Some of the thunderstorms may become severe during the afternoon and evening across central and southern New York, central and eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and northern and western Virginia. Strong, damaging wind gusts and hail are possible as well an isolated tornado. Other shower and thunderstorm activity is possible through New England and eastern Virginia.

Michigan Tanker Trailer Crash/Explosion

I-75 in Hazel Park, MI was shut down following a gasoline tanker explosion in the Detroit suburb. Injuries or fatalities are unknown at this time but open source media report a half-mile evacuation is currently in place. The tractor trailer, transporting at least 13,000 gallons of gasoline, crashed into a bridge, rolled over and exploded and the resulting fire is preventing authorities from determining whether other vehicles are involved.

Michigan State Police (MSP) confirmed that the heat from the tanker blast/fire caused the 9-Mile overpass above northbound I-75 to collapse, shutting down the freeway in both directions between 8-Mile and 11-Mile roads.  It is unknown when either direction of I-75 will reopen. DHS NICC reported four (4) electric cables were impacted, causing thousands of customer outages.(Open Source Media, DHS NOC, NICC/IP, FEMA Region 5)

Railbelt Complex Wildfire, AK Update

The Railbelt Complex Wildfire in Alaska, 12 miles southwest of Nenana,  has now burned about 161,344 acres and is 2% contained. 111 residences and 41 other buildings are threatened. No structures have been damaged. The fires were caused by lightning.

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 Depression Carlos                                          
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, July 16, 2009, Tropical Depression Carlos was located approximately 1,790 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Carlos is moving toward the west near 14 mph.  This general motion is expected to continue until dissipation. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 30 mph, with higher gusts.  Carlos is expected to become a remnant low later today. 

Tropical Storm Dolores
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, July 16, 2009, the center of Tropical Storm Dolores was approximately 680 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.  Dolores is moving toward the northwest near 18 mph.  This general motion is expected to continue with a turn toward the west-northwest today and Friday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph, with higher gusts.  Little change in strength is forecast today but a gradual weakening should begin on Friday. Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Wednesday evening.

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

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:  2
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, July 15, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Moderate (209 new fires)
New large fires:  4
Large fires contained:  2
Uncontained large fires:  20
States affected:  AK, CA, OK, TX, OR, AZ, NM, UT & CO(National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 16-Jul-2009 08:00:20 EDT