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National Situation Update: Monday, September 7, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
A cold front extends from the Dakotas to Nevada.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast along the front during afternoon hours with the strongest activity in the Dakotas.  The Pacific Northwest will have a few lingering showers. Snow levels in the Cascades should be around 6,000 feet. Scattered thunderstorm activity is forecast for the central and southern Rocky Mountains during the afternoon and evening hours.
Midwest:
The upper level low is forecast to remain over the Ohio Valley through at least midweek. This system will continue to produce showers and thunderstorms with a threat of localized flash flooding.
South:
An area of low pressure just offshore of the Carolinas will produce locally heavy rain and thunderstorms. The tight gradient between the low and the high pressure over New England will produce gusty winds in the Carolinas.
Additional afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected across the region. 
Northeast:
The upper level low over the Ohio Valley will spread showers and thunderstorms into western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  The low off the Carolinas will produce showers and a few thunderstorms in eastern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and the Del-Mar-VA Peninsula.(NOAA, National Weather Service, media sources)

Region IX Wildfires

California Wildfire:
Station Fire - 1.5 mi north of Los Angeles River Ranger District (Angeles National Forest)
FMAG-2830-FM-CA approved August 28, 2009
There are 157,220 acres burned; the fire is 51% contained as of 7:00 p.m. EDT Sunday, September 6
There has been 2 firefighter deaths and 9 injuries.  76 residences, 2 commercial properties, communications sites and 86 outbuildings have been destroyed.  13 residences, 1 commercial and 18 out buildings damaged.  There are 5,000 residences, 200 commercial structures and 2,000 outbuildings threatened.  Two shelters have opened with five occupants.  The LA County EOC has been deactivated.  Current personnel assigned:  4,861.  Estimated containment date is September 15, 2009  (Region IX, NIFC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Invest 96
A concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms centered about 150 miles southeast of the southern Cape Verde islands is associated with a strong tropical wave.  Conditions appear favorable for this system to develop into a tropical depression within the next day or so as it moves westward or west-northwestward at near 20 mph.  Locally heavy showers and strong gusty winds are likely over the southern Cape Verde islands today.  There is a high chance greater than 50 percent of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical Depression 15E
At 5:00 am EDT the center of tropical depression Fifteen-E was located 1145 miles west-southwest of the southern
tip of Baja California Mexico.  The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days with some decrease in forward speed.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.  Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and the depression could become a tropical storm later today.

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Tuesday evening.

Western Pacific
No systems affecting U.S. 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 Sunday, September 06, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (119 new fires)
New large fires:  0
Large fires contained:  0
Uncontained large fires:  9
States affected:  CA, MT,  NM, OR, UT and WA  (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 08-Sep-2009 08:33:08 EDT