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National Situation Update: Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South  
Isolated showers and storms are forecast for the Southeast and Gulf Coasts. Temperatures will be several degrees above average, into the upper 90s and low 100s across much of Texas and Oklahoma.

Midwest 
Showers and thunderstorms, some severe, are likely over the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. This includes the St. Louis, Louisville and Cincinnati areas. Portions of the Great Lakes and Central Plains may also see a few showers or thunderstorms.

West  
A few thunderstorms are possible in the Southwest, especially over high terrain. A high fire danger exists from Oregon and southwest Idaho to Nevada due to a combination of lightning strikes and gusty winds.

Northeast  
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely from western portions of Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to Northern New England.(NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Eastern Pacific
At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Storm Enrique was located about 725 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Enrique is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph. A decrease in forward speed is expected over the next 24 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Currently this Tropical Storm does not threaten U.S. interests.

At 5:00 a.m. PDT the center of Tropical Depression Eight-E was located about 1,175 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph, and this general motion is expect to continue for the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today. Currently this Tropical Depression does not threaten U.S. interests.

Central Pacific
Isolated thunderstorms associated with former Tropical Depression Lana are located 500 to 600 miles SW of Honolulu. Any re-development of this system will be slow to occur as it drifts slowly west. Otherwise, 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

6.9 Earthquake - Gulf of Baja California
Two earthquakes occurred Monday morning near Santa Isabel, in the Gulf of Baja California, Mexico. The first earthquake, magnitude 5.8, occurred at 1:55 p.m. EDT. The second was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake at 1:59 p.m. EDT, followed by two aftershocks of 5.0 and 5.9. No tsunami warnings were generated. No injuries or deaths were reported, and no damage was reported. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

These Gulf of California earthquakes occurred in athe a plate boundary region between the North America and Pacific plate (red line). The seismographically recorded radiation pattern of the main shock implies
the shock occurred as the result of strike-slip faulting, but the earthquake has not yet been associated with a specific geologically mapped fault. The largest historically recorded shocks from the Gulf of California have had magnitudes of about 7. (U.S. Geological Survey and California Geological Survey; also see USGS web site: earthquakes.usgs.gov/regional/qfaults/)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 3 National Fire Activity as of Monday, August 3, 2009:

  • Initial attack activity: Heavy (439 new fires, a significant jump from 199 new fires reported on Saturday)
  • New large fires:  0
  • Large fires contained:  1
  • Uncontained large fires:  19
  • States affected:  OR, WA, CA, UT, ID, AK, NV, AZ, TX, NC, & CO (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 04-Aug-2009 08:00:49 EDT