Skip to content

National Situation Update: Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
Warm, dry weather is forecast for most of the region.  Temperatures will range from the 70s in northern Maine to the upper 80s elsewhere across the Northeast.
West
Scattered thunderstorms and showers are possible over parts of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and eastern Arizona due to a weak cold front moving through the region.  Highs will range from the 70s in the lower elevations of the Rockies and the Northwest to the 100s in the Desert Southwest.
South
Thunderstorms possible in areas near the Florida Peninsula due to tropical moisture.  Highs will range from the 80s in the lower-Mississippi Valley and the Carolinas to the 90s and 100s in Oklahoma and Texas.  A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for southwestern New Mexico until 4:30 a.m. MDT today.
Midwest
Scattered showers and storms (some severe) are forecast from the northern Great Lakes west to Nebraska and southern South Dakota.  Temperatures will range from the mid to upper 80s in the southern Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and mid-Mississippi Valley.  A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for northeastern Nebraska until 5:30 a.m. CDT today.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Area 1
A large area of cloudiness and thunderstorms centered about 275 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands is associated with a tropical wave interacting with an upper-level low.  There are no signs of a surface circulation at this time, but upper-level winds could become a little more favorable for slow development during the next day or two as the activity moves toward the west-northwest at 20 to 25 mph.  There is a medium chance (30% to 50%) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Area 2
An area of disturbed weather associated with a broad area of low pressure located over the extreme southwestern
Caribbean Sea is moving westward over southern
Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica.  Development is not anticipated, and if any, will be slow to occur when the system reaches the eastern Pacific in a day or so.  There is a low chance, less than 30%, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical Storm Ignacio
As of 5:00 a.m. EDT, August 25, 2009, the center of Tropical S torm Ignacio was located 650 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California.  Ignacio is moving west-northwest near 12 mph.  A track between the west-northwest and northwest is expected for the next 24 to 48 hours.  Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 to
36 hours before Ignacio reaches cooler waters.

Central Pacific
Tropical Storm Hilda
As of 5:00 a.m. EDT, August 25, 2009, the center of Tropical Storm Hilda was located 585 miles southeast of Hilo, HI and about 795 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, HI.  Hilda is moving west near 9 mph.  This Tropical Storm is expected to move to the west-southwest at a slightly slower forward motion over the next 48 hours.  Maximum sustained winds are 60 mph with higher gusts.  Slow intensification is expected through the next couple of days.

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 2
National Fire Activity as of Monday, August 24, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (85 new fires)
New large fires:  2
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  6
States affected:  AZ, CA, NV, UT & WA (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment #1 was received for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, FEMA-1855-DR-DR, effective August 24, 2009, to include Trimble and Jefferson Counties for Public Assistance (Jefferson County was previously approved for IA).  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Aug-2009 08:06:33 EDT