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National Situation Update: Thursday, August 6, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Thunderstorms are forecast for northern California, northern Nevada and Oregon to the Northern Rockies and adjacent High Plains.  Strong gusty winds are forecast for southeast California and northern Arizona to Utah and Nevada.  The winds, plus low humidity, will result in critical to extreme fire danger in portions of of the Southwest.  An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect for Phoenix, AZ through this evening.  However, temperatures will be much cooler later in the week from the West Coast to the Great Basin and Inter-Mountain West.
Midwest
The combination of impulses aloft and a frontal boundary moving northward will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region.  Thunderstorms will be most active in the Plains States with some likely to be severe.  Thunderstorms will spread into the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes through Friday.  High temperatures will be in the 100s in southern Kansas.
South
An upper trough and a frontal boundary will bring scattered thunderstorms to portions of the Southeast.  The greatest chances will be from the eastern Carolinas southwestward to the central and eastern Gulf Coast and Florida.  Highs in the upper 90s and low 100s will be widespread through Texas and Oklahoma with heat indices reaching in the 105 to 110 degree range.
Northeast
High pressure will keep most locations dry. A cold front will remain along the coast from southern New England southwestward into the Mid-Atlantic.  Some rain may remain into the evening as low pressure moves along the frontal boundary.(NOAA, National Weather Service, and media sources)

Kentucky Storms and Flooding Update

The FEMA Region IV RRCC in Atlanta is currently at Level IV (Steady State). As of 10 p.m. EDT Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities reported less than 300 customers without power.  Nine buildings were damaged by significant flooding on the University of Louisville campus.   No fatalities or injuries have been reported.  No federal assistance has been requested.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Felicia:
At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Felicia was located about 1,480 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Felicia is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph.  An increase in this forward motion is expected over the next couple of days.  The maximum sustained winds have increased to near 140mph, with higher gusts. Felicia is now a Category Four Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.  Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days as Felicia moves over colder water.  Hurricane force winds extends outward up to 40 miles, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 155 miles from the center.

Tropical Storm Enrique:
At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Storm Enrique was located about 1,035 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California. Enrique is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph.  A gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected later today and this motion should continue until dissipation.  The maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts.  Enrique is already over cool waters and is forecast to weaken over the next day or so.  Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles to the north and east of the center.
Atlantic
Tropical Cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday 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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 3
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, August 5, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Moderate (223 new fires)
New large fires:  13
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  37
States affected:  AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NC, NM, NV, OR, TX, WA, & WY, (NIFC)
Alaska - Rex Creek Fire
The Rex Creek Fire is located 13 miles SE of Anderson, Alaska.  Approximately 27,000 acres have been consumed and it is currently zero percent contained.  There are 236 residence and 6 commercial properties threatened. A Fire Management Assistance Grant was requested, but it was later denied.
California - SHU Lightning Fire
The SHU Lightning Fire is located three miles NE of Burney, California (Shasta County).  Approximately 7,600 acres have been consumed and it is currently 15 percent contained.  There are 20 residences under a mandatory evacuation order and a total of 120 homes threatened.  The estimated containment date is 8 August.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 06-Aug-2009 07:56:49 EDT