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National Situation Update: Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Northeast
Portions of eastern New England and Long Island could see locally heavy amounts of rain today. Scattered showers and storms are expected to continue across the region for most of the week.
Midwest
Heavy rain may affect parts of eastern Kansas, western Missouri, and northern Arkansas into this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely through much of the Mississippi Valley, lower-Ohio Valley, Lower Michigan, Ohio and northern Indiana. Tornado Watches are in effect for parts of Oklahoma until 5 a.m. EDT today.
South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, some severe with large hail and gusty winds, are expected from Mississippi Valley westward into Texas. Scattered thunderstorms may occur in Florida, the Carolinas, and the Southern Appalachians.
West
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in the higher elevations of the Four Corners' States and southern Nevada. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
A tropical wave entering the eastern Caribbean Sea is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms as it moves westward near 15-20 mph. Upper-level winds are expected to remain unfavorable for development of this system for the next couple of days. There is a low chance (less than 30 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Elsewhere tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.


Eastern Pacific
Tropical Cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
A surface trough now more than 700 miles southwest of the Big Island of Hawaii has been moving west at near 15 mph. Tropical cyclone development in the area is not expected over the next 48 hours.

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 (increased activity)
National Fire Activity as of Monday, July 20, 2009:

  • Initial attack activity: Light (212 new fires)
  • New large fires:  7
  • Large fires contained:  2
  • Uncontained large fires:  21
  • States affected:  AK, CA, NV, OR, MT, TX, LA, UT, CO, and AZ (Inciweb, NIFC, FEMA HQ, Media Sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 21-Jul-2009 08:00:45 EDT