National Situation Update: Friday, August 28, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Midwest
Thunderstorms will develop today across parts of Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas, and into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Highs will range from the upper 50s and low 60s around western Lake Superior to the low and mid 80s in the Ohio Valley and parts of the central Plains. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for east-central Illinois until 6:00 a.m. CDT today.
South
Two upper-level disturbances, one moving into the Southeast and a second moving into the lower Mississippi Valley, will trigger scattered thunderstorms from parts of southern Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana eastward to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida throughout the entire day. Highs today will range from upper 60s and 70s in the southern Appalachians to the low 100s in southernmost Texas.
West
The majority of the West will be dry today with the exception of a few showers and thunderstorms affecting the Cascades-Siskiyou to the coast. Temperatures will range from the 60s and 70s west of the Cascades to the 80s in Montana, the 90s in the lower elevations of Idaho and between 105 and 120 in the Desert Southwest. An Excessive Heat warning remains in effect for east-central and southeastern California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona until late Saturday evening. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for eastern Washington, northern Idaho, northeastern Oregon and southern California until late Friday evening.
Northeast
Early morning frost will affect portions of northern New York and northern New England. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop across the Mid-Atlantic and begin to push northward into Upstate New York and southern New England later in the day. Highs will range between the 60s and 70s in the northern sections of the region to the 80s in the Mid-Atlantic area. A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for northern Maryland until 5:00 a.m. EDT today. (NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

Gloria Fire – California

A wildland fire is burning northeast of Soledad in Monterey County, California. The fire has burned 2,000 acres with no containment. Some mandatory evacuations have been declared and 100 residences are threatened. Approximately 33,000 customers are without power in the cities of Soledad, Prunedale, Hollister and Gonzales. The fire does not pose a threat to the power grid. One hundred eighty five personnel are assigned to the fire. State Route 146 near Soledad has been closed in both directions. The Cal EMA Duty Officer, Coastal Region Duty Officer and Law Enforcement Branch Duty Officer continue to monitor the event. There are no reports of injuries or deaths and no Federal requests are anticipated. (CA EMA, California Utilities Emergency Association)

PV Fire - California

A fire is burning in the area of Oceans Trail and Palos Verde Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County. The fire is currently 30 to 50 acres and is spreading rapidly. Two structures have been destroyed and six residences are threatened. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for parts of Rancho Palos Verdes. No shelters have been indentified at this time. Per California Utilities Emergency Association, the fire does not pose a threat to the power grid. Los Angeles County Fire is responding. Cal EMA Fire Duty Officer, Southern Region Duty Officer and Law Enforcement Branch Duty Officer are monitoring the event. There is a possible FMAG request from state as more information becomes known. (CA Emergency Management Agency, Big Meadow Fire 209)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical Storm Danny
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Danny was located about 400 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Danny is moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph and a turn to the north with an increase in forward speed is expected today. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph, with higher gusts, but these winds are confined to the northeast of the center. There is a small opportunity for slight restrengthening today. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles northeast of the center. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the North Carolina Coast from Cape Lookout northward to Duck, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Large swells from Danny are expected to produce dangerous surf conditions and life-threatening rip currents along the U.S. East Coast during the next day or two.

Area 1
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, an area of disturbed weather associated with a tropical wave is located over the far eastern Atlantic ocean, about 450 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. This system continues to show signs of organization and slow development is possible over the next couple of days as it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a medium chance, 30 to 50 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
Area 1
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, the area of disturbed weather located a few hundred miles south-southeast of Acapulco, Mexico has changed little in organization over the past few hours. Conditions are expected to remain favorable for additional development of this system as it moves west to west-northwestward near 10 mph over the next couple of days. There is a medium chance, 30 to 50 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Area 2
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, shower and thunderstorm activity associated with a broad area of low pressure was located about 850 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system during the next couple of days as it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a medium chance, 30 to 50 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
Area 1
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, an area of disturbed weather about 1,100 miles southwest of Lihue on Kauai moved northwest near 7 mph. This cluster of thunderstorms remained poorly organized, and likely will not develop into tropical cyclone over 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

The USGS reports that a series of nine earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 2.3 to 3.7 magnitude have occurred since early Thursday morning in or near the town of Jones, OK, approximately 15 miles east-northeast of Oklahoma City, OK. The earthquakes were felt across a large area; however, there have been no reports of damage or injury. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, August 27, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (86 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 6
States affected: AZ, CA, TX, & WA (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity