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National Situation Update: Saturday, August 1, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:
The region will be dry except for thunderstorms in higher elevations. Temperatures in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana will remain five to ten degrees above average through the weekend.
Midwest:
A frontal system extending from the western Great Lakes to the Texas Panhandle will produce widespread showers and thunderstorms.
South:
Thunderstorms and areas of heavy precipitation are forecast along the front extending from Texas to the Mid-Atlantic. Additional thunderstorms will be scattered across much of the region. Some of the thunderstorms along the frontal boundary from east Texas to Tennessee may become severe with large hail and gusty winds and even tornadoes. Eastern Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana have received significant rainfall over the past few days; today's additional rainfall will produce localized flooding.
Northeast:
Expect mostly sunny skies across New England and the Mid-Atlantic with just a few showers and thunderstorms storms in the central Appalachians and southeastern Virginia. Another front will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region tonight and Sunday. (NOAA, National Weather Service, various media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
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
At 5:00 am EDT, on August 1, 2009, the center of Tropical Storm Lana was located approximately 480 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Moving toward the West at 16 mph; this motion is expected to continue over the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts; expected to weaken from Saturday into Sunday. Based on the current warning, Tropical Storm Lana will pass about 240 miles south of the Big Island of Hawaii early Sunday morning. 
Western Pacific 
No activity affecting U.S. territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, NWS Guam)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 3
National Fire Activity as of Friday, July 31, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Moderate (206 new fires)
New large fires:  9
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  19
States affected:  OR, WA, CA, UT, MT, AK, TX, NC & CO (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On July 31, 2009 the Governor of Tennessee requested to re-open the incident period for FEMA-1851-DR. The incident period for this declaration was established as June 12-14, 2009. The request is to include Claiborne and Hancock Counties for Public Assistance under this major disaster declaration.

On July 31, 2009, the President declared a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Nebraska (FEMA-1853-DR) as a result of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding occurring June 5-26, 2009. The declaration provides Public Assistance for 13 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Michael Karl has been appointed as the Federal Coordinating Officer. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 03-Aug-2009 08:02:52 EDT