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National Situation Update: Thursday, August 20, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South
Scattered thunderstorms are possible from the Southeast to the Gulf Coast States.  High temperatures in the 80s and 90s are forecast from the lower-Mississippi Valley eastward to the Carolinas and in the upper 90s and 100s throughout Texas outside of the panhandle.
Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms (some severe) are forecast from Lower Michigan to the mid-Mississippi Valley.  Highs will be in the 60s from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley and in the lower 80s across the Ohio Valley.  Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas until 8:00 a.m. CDT this morning.  A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for south-central and southeastern Missouri, southwest Illinois, and north-central Arkansas until 8:00 a.m. CDT today.
Northeast
A low pressure system moving in from the Midwest will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Mid-Atlantic States.  Highs will be primarily in the 80s with some 70s over higher terrain and in western portions of New York and Pennsylvania.
West
Temperatures will be cooler in the Pacific Northwest and above average in the interior West as a high pressure system moves eastward.  Highs in portions of Utah and Idaho will be near 100 and temperatures in the Desert Southwest will be well into the 110s.  A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. PDT for the central and southern Cascades in Washinton state.(NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

Region V Severe Weather

  • Severe thunderstorms, heavy rains, and unconfirmed tornadoes impacted eastern Minnesota and western and central Illinois
  • RRCC at Watch/Steady State; State EOCs not activated

Illinois:

  • 5 counties affected; majority of reported damage in Scott and Sangamon
  • Damage to homes; downed trees
  • 2 injuries; no fatalities
  • 21,000 power outages reported (Ameren, ComEd)

Minnesota:

  • 5 counties affected
  • Reports of downed trees and power lines, and street flooding
  • 4,000 without power in Minneapolis area - restoration expected by noon (Xcel Energy)
  • 0 injuries; 0 fatalities  (Region V RRCC)

Region IX Fires

La Brea Fire, Los Padres National Forest

  • 21 miles east of Santa Maria, CA
  • 89,015 acres; 87% containment  (FEMA Region IX, Cal Fire, InciWeb)

Lockheed Fire, Santa Cruz County, California

  • 4 miles NE of Ben Lomond, CA
  • 7,243 acres; 80% containment (expected containment on August 20)
  • 8 injuries (first responders)
  • FMAG-2824-CA granted Aug 13 (FEMA Region IX, Cal Fire)

Yuba Fire, California

  • 3 miles northeast of Dobbins, CA.
  • 3,891 acres; 80% contained (expected containment on August 22)
  • 26 injuries (first responders)
  • 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 20, 2009, the center of Hurricane Bill was approximately 325 miles north-northeast of the Leeward Islands and 790 miles south-southeast of Bermuda.  Bill has weakend to a Category three Hurricane and is moving toward the northwest near 18 mph.  This general motion is expected for the next day or so with a turn toward the north-northwest by late Friday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph, with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours and Bill could regain Category Four status later today or Friday.

Eastern Pacific
No activity affecting US territories.

Central Pacific
No activity affecting US territories.

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 Wednesday, August 19, 2009:

  • Initial attack activity: Light (82 new fires)
  • New large fires:  1
  • Large fires contained:  1
  • Uncontained large fires:  14
  • States affected:  AK, AZ, CA, CO, TX & UT (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 20-Aug-2009 08:05:54 EDT