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National Situation Update: Monday, August 3, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Storms continue across the Midwest, Great Lakes, and middle Mississippi Valley. Thunderstorms, some severe, are expected from Chicago to St. Louis and Kansas City. Temperature highs in the lower 100s are likely across Kansas.

Further north, a few afternoon showers or thundershowers are possible across the Dakotas and northern Minnesota.

South
A stalled cold front along the Southeast Coast and northern Florida is causing scattered showers and thunderstorms. No severe thunderstorms are expected; however, heavy precipitation could cause torrential downpours and localized flooding. High temperatures of 100 to 105 degrees are expected in Oklahoma and Texas.

West
Afternoon and early evening thunderstorms are forecast over the California mountains. Hot temperatures continue across most of the West, including the Pacific Northwest. Afternoon highs could climb into the 110s over the deserts of Arizona, eastern California and southern Nevada.

Northeast
No severe weather is expected across the northeast through the start of the week. (NOAA, National Weather Service, various media sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Eastern Pacific
A tropical wave located about 1,000 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California appears favorable for some slow development over the next couple of days as it moves west to west-northwestward at around 15 mph. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

A low pressure located about 600 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico appears favorable for slow development over the next couple of days as it moves west to west-northwestward at around 15 mph. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
At 5 a.m. EDT, Tropical Depression Lana was located about 540 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. Lana is moving toward the west near 15 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts. Weakening is expected and this system may dissipate on Monday.

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 3
National Fire Activity as of Sunday, August 2, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (199 new fires)
New large fires:  8
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  18
States affected:  OR, WA, CA, UT, ID, AK, NV, AZ, TX, NC, & CO (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)