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National Situation Update: Monday, August 31, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
An upper-level low moving across the northern and central Rocky Mountains will produce showers and scattered thunderstorms from northern Idaho and western Montana south to New Mexico and eastern Arizona. Afternoon high temperatures will reach the 100s across the Desert Southwest. 
Midwest:
A large cold area of high pressure will result in generally dry conditions across the region. Expect temperatures as much as 15 degrees below average for the next few days and record lows are possible this morning. 
South:
A slow moving front extends from the Carolina coast, southwestward across northern Florida, to the northern Gulf of Mexico. Expect showers and thunderstorms along the entire front. 
Northeast:
High pressure building in from the west will produce generally dry conditions across the region. The frontal system extending offshore from the Carolinas and southern Virginia will produce showers and occasional thunderstorms across the Del-Mar-Va peninsula and much of Virginia.(NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FEMA-2832-FM-CA was approved for the 49er Fire in Auburn, Placer County, CA.  The fire has burned 275 acres and is 50% contained. 60 structures have been damaged or destroyed and multiple structures and three Elder Care facilities remain threatened. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for 450 residences and voluntary evacuations for 1,000 residences. Highway 49 has been closed from Bell Road to Dry Creek.

FEMA-2833-FM-CA was requested and approved on August 31, 2009 for the Oak Glen III Fire located south of Oak Glen and Potato Canyon in San Bernardino County. The fire started August 30, 2009 and has burned 350 acres and is 0% contained. The communities of Oak Glen and Cherry Valley (combined population of 31,500) are threatened. 2,000 residences and 75 businesses are immediately threatened. A mandatory evacuation is in place for 1,500 along with voluntary evacuations. The fire is less than 1/8 mile from structures. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic:
 Invest 94 A broad area of low pressure located about 700 miles east of the Windward Islands is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Environmental conditions still appear favorable for further development...and this system could become a tropical depression during the next day or so as it moves west-northwestward at around 15 mph.  There is a high chance (greater than 50 percent) of tropical cyclone formation in this area during the next 48 hours.  Interests in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of this system.

Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Jimena
At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Jimena was about 245 miles southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico and about 395 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Jimena is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph. A gradual increase in forward speed and a turn toward the north-northwest is expected over the next couple of days.  On the forecast track Jimena will be approaching the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Jimena is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.  Some fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next day or two. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.

Tropical Storm Kevin
At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Storm Kevin was about 895 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kevin is moving toward the north-northeast near 6 mph and this general motion with an additional decrease in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is expected over the next couple of days and Kevin could become a tropical depression later today. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles to the northwest of the center.

Central Pacific
No Activity.

Western Pacific
No activity affecting US territories.  (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On August 30, 2009, at 10:51 a.m. EDT, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred 110 miles south-southwest of Apia, Samoa at a depth of 6.2 miles. There were no reports of injuries, damage, or tsunami being generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 2  National Fire Activity as of Sunday, August 30, 2009:  Initial attack activity: Light (92 new fires)  New large fires: 3 Large fires contained: 1 Uncontained large fires: 14 States affected: CA, OR, WA, TX, & ID (NIFC)

 Region VIII,
Utah Wildfire Mill Flat Fire (FEMA-2831-FM-UT)
The Mill Flat Fire is located near New Harmony, Washington County, Utah and started on July 25, 2009 as a result of lightning. The fire has burned 10,000 acres and containment is unknown. 550 residences and 58 commercial buildings are threatened and a mandatory evacuation is in effect for 150 residents.

Region IX,
California Wildfires Station Fire (FEMA-2830-FM-CA)
The Station Fire is located 4 miles north of La Canada in Los Angeles County, CA. The fire has burned 42,500 acres and is 5% contained. The estimated date of containment is September 8, 2009. 18 residences have been destroyed and over 10,000 residences, 500 commercial buildings, 2,000 other buildings and the Mount Wilson Communications Facilities and Observatory are threatened. There are two fatalities and three injuries. Mandatory evacuations are in place for 2,350 residences and an ARC shelter has been established at La Canada High School. Three people have been injured and three residences have been destroyed. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for Los Angeles County. 1,804 fire fighting personnel have been committed.
49er Fire
FMAG FEMA-2832-FM-CA was requested and approved on August 30, 2009 for the 49er Fire located between Highway 49 and Rock Creek near Auburn in Placer County. The fire started August 30, 2009 and has burned 275 acres and is 50% contained. 60 structures have been damaged or destroyed and multiple structures and three Elder Care facilities remain threatened. Evacuations are in effect for the Saddleback subdivision in Auburn - mandatory evacuations are in effect for 450 residences and voluntary evacuations for 1,000 residences. Highway 49 is closed from Bell Road to Dry Creek.

Oak Glen III Fire
FMAG FEMA-2833-FM-CA was requested and approved on August 31, 2009 for the Oak Glen III Fire located south of Oak Glen and Potato Canyon in San Bernardino County. The fire started August 30, 2009 and has burned 350 acres and is 0% contained. The communities of Oak Glen and Cherry Valley (combined population of 31,500) are threatened. 2,000 residences and 75 businesses are immediately threatened. A mandatory evacuation is in place for 1,500 along with voluntary evacuations. The fire is less than 1/8 mile from structures.

Big Meadow Fire
The Big Meadow Fire is located in Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County. The fire has burned 4,682 acres and is 50% contained. Two firefighters have been injured. 50 residences, 1 commercial property and 25 outbuildings are threatened. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Crane Flat Campground, Foresta Community, Park Line Yosemite View Lodge Complex and Old El Portal Community. The main access to Yosemite National Park is closed. An evacuation shelter was opened at Mariposa Elementary School with a population of 1. There is no threat to the power grid. 906 firefighting personnel have been assigned. The Lt. Governor declared a State of Emergency for Mariposa County.


Region X,
Oregon Wildfire Microwave Fire (FEMA-2829-FM-OR)
The Microwave Fire is located 3 miles west of Mosier, on the border of Hood River and Wasco Counties in the Columbia River Gorge area. The fire has burned 1,250 acres and is 65% contained. The estimated date of containment is September 5, 2009. Residents of the community of Mosier (450 residents) were allowed to return to their homes. Three residences and one outbuilding were destroyed. (Region X DSAR; Inciweb)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 31-Aug-2009 08:07:11 EDT