Skip to content

National Situation Update: Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms will continue over the Northeast for several days.  Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to be more widespread tomorrow, especially from New York to the Mid-Atlantic.  Temperatures will hold near-or-below-average over the next couple of days.  Temperatures will become warmer by the weekend and beyond, but it will be somewhat humid and the rain threat will continue.

Midwest
An area of low pressure approaching the Ohio Valley will produce rain and thunderstorms.  Portions of the Central Plains, upper-Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes will see scattered showers and thunderstorms.  Temperatures will continue to be moderate for this time of year as an area of cool air will move down across the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes areas by the weekend.

South
Thunderstorms are forecast for the South today, with most of the activity from the Mississippi Valley to Texas.  The chance of thunderstorms is forecast along the Southeast Coast due to tropical moisture.  East of the Mississippi River, highs will range from the 70s in the Tennessee Valley, to the 80s and low 90s in most other areas.  The Southern Plains will see highs range from the 80s in Oklahoma to the 100s in South Texas.

West
Temperatures well-above-average are forecast especially across the northern half of the region.  The Great Basin and Intermountain West will see high temperatures near or above 100 degrees.  Triple-digit heat will continue across the Desert Southwest and the Central Valley of California.  The combination of tropical moisture and disturbances aloft will keep the threat of showers and thunderstorms over parts of the Southwest, especially in the higher elevations.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Area 1
As of 2:00 a.m. EDT, July 22, 2009, disorganized showers and thunderstorms, spreading primarily over Hispaniola and the adjacent waters, are associated with a Tropical Wave moving toward the west-northwest at approximately 20-to-25-mph.  Upper-level winds, and the interaction with land, do not favor development during the next day or so.  There is a low chance (less than 30%) of this system becoming a Tropical Cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Area 2
As of 2:00 a.m. EDT, July 22, 2009, disorganized cloudiness and thunderstorms over the Bahamas and the adjacent Atlantic are associated with a weak surface trough.  There are no signs of development.  There is a low chance (less than 30%) of this system becoming a Tropical Cyclone during the next 48 hours.

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

Central Pacific
Area 1
As of 4:00 a.m. EDT, July 22, 2009, a surface trough more than 1,300 miles southwest of the island of Honolulu, Hawaii, has been moving west near 20 mph. Isolated thunderstorms along the trough have diminished since early afternoon.  The upper-level wind pattern will remain unfavorable for Tropical Cyclone development through 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 Tuesday, July 21, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Moderate (216 new fires)
New large fires:  3
Large fires contained:  2
Uncontained large fires:  18
States affected:  AK, CA, LA, MT, NV, OR, TX, UT & WA  
 (Inciweb, NIFC, FEMA HQ, Media Sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Jul-2009 07:58:02 EDT