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National Situation Update: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South
Scattered thunderstorms are possible from eastern and coastal Texas to the lower-Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.  High temperatures will be in the 80s and 90s from the lower-Mississippi Valley eastward to the Carolinas.  A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for central Oklahoma and north-central Texas until 6:00 a.m. CDT this morning. 
Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast from Minnesota and extreme western Wisconsin southward to eastern Kansas and Missouri.  Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes are possible in these areas.  A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for northeastern South Dakota until 6:15 a.m. CDT today.  Highs will range from the 60s in Minnesota and the northern Plains to the 80s in Kansas and Kentucky. 
Northeast
A weakening cold front will produce scattered thunderstorms from Pennsylvania southward to Virginia.  Highs in the upper 80s will extend from Maine to Washington, D.C.
West
A high-pressure system in the Northwest will produce above-average temperatures from northern California and northern Nevada to Oregon and Washington.  Highs will range from the upper 80s in Seattle to 100 in California.  An Excessive Heat Warning will be in effect for the interior of southwest Washington and northeast Oregon from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. PDT today.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

La Brea Fire, Los Padres National Forest

  • 21 miles east of Santa Maria, CA
  • 88,661 acres; 75% containment
  • 9 residences threatened
  • Evacuations remain for Wiasioia Road; all other evacuations lifted (FEMA Region IX, Cal Fire)

Lockheed Fire, Santa Cruz County, California

  • 4 miles NE of Ben Lomond, CA
  • 7,163 acres; 80% containment
  • 6 injuries (first responders)
  • 6  residences threatened;  2 outbuildings damaged and 1 destroyed 
  • Evacuations are still in effect for approximately 20 residents; all other evacuations have been lifted.
  • FMAG-2824-CA granted Aug 13 (FEMA Region IX, Cal Fire)

Yuba Fire, California

  • 3 miles northeast of Dobbins, CA.
  • 3,611 acres; 45% contained.
  • 18 injuries (first responders)
  • 400 residences threatened; 2 destroyed
  • Evacuations have been lifted in all areas
  • FMAG -2825-CA granted August 15(FEMA Region IX, Cal Fire)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Hurricane Bill
As of 5:00 a.m. EDT, August 19, 2009, the center of Hurricane Bill was approximately 460 miles east of the Leeward Islands.  Bill has strengthened to a Category Four Hurricane and is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph.  A gradual turn to the northwest is expected during the next 24 to 48 hours.  The core of the Hurricane will be passing well to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands late today and early Thursday.  Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 135 mph, with higher gusts.  Additional strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours.  Hurricane force winds extend outward upt to 45 miles from the center and Tropical Storm winds extend outward up to 175 miles.  A NOAA Hurricane aircraft is currently enroute to investigate Bill.
Area 1
A large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms extending from central Cuba to the western Bahamas and South Florida is associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Ana and interacting with an upper-level low pressure area.  This activity is moving toward the west-northwest at 20 to 25 mph and will be spreading across the remainder of Cuba and South Florida before emerging into the eastern Gulf of Mexico today.  This system shows no signs of regeneration at this time and there is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone again during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
No activity affecting US territories.

Central Pacific
Tropical Storm Guillermo
As of 11:00 p.m. EDT, August 18, 2009, the center of Tropical Storm Guillermo was located approximately 610 miles north-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii and about 590 miles northeast of Honolulu, HI.  Guillermo is moving toward the northwest near 18 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.  Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph, with higher gusts.  Continued weakening is expected in the next 12 hours and the system is forecast to become a remnant low in the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific  
No activity affecting US 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 Tuesday, August 18, 2009:

  • Initial attack activity: Light (74 new fires)
  • New large fires:  2
  • Large fires contained:  1
  • Uncontained large fires:  15
  • States affected:  AK, AZ, CA, CO, & TX (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment # 1 for FEMA-1852-DR-ME, effective August 18, adds Public Assistance for Piscataquis County for damages due to severe storms, flooding, and landslides that occurred from June 18 - July 8, 2009.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 19-Aug-2009 08:02:32 EDT