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National Situation Update: Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
A weather system moving southeast out of Canada through New England will bring strong winds, rip currents, beach erosion, coastal flooding, and some heavy rain. Waves produced by the winds are forecast to reach 4 to 8 feet today, and increase to 6 to 10 feet on Thursday. High waves may cause dangerous rip currents.
Rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches are expected along the East coast, with lesser amounts in eastern Pennsylvania, the lower Hudson Valley in New York, and over interior southern New England through Thursday.
Midwest
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast over the Plains to the Great Lakes, and from Kansas to Missouri, and the Ohio Valley. Some of the storms will contain hail, strong wind gusts, and heavy rain. The ground is already saturated from recent rainfall and any thunderstorms could produce flooding and/or flash flooding.
South
Some rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the Gulf Coast and the southern half of the Florida Peninsula over the next couple of days. A few isolated thunderstorms are possible along the southern Appalachian Mountains on Thursday.
West
The central and southern Rockies and western Washington can expect thunderstorms today.
Temperatures of 100 degrees or more are possible over the deserts of eastern California, Arizona, and southern Nevada.(NOAA's National Weather Service and Various Media sources)

Region IX Wildfires

California Wildfire:
Station Fire - 1.5 miles north of Los Angeles River Ranger District (Angeles National Forest)
FMAG-2830-FM-CA was approved on August 28, 2009. There are 160,357 acres burned; the fire was 60% contained as of 9:00 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept 8. There have been 2 firefighter deaths and 10 civilian injuries.  78 residences, 2 commercial properties, 2 communications sites and 86 outbuildings have been destroyed.  13 residences, 1 commercial structure and 28 outbuildings have been damaged. There are 5,000 residences, 200 commercial structures and 2,000 outbuildings threatened.  No shelters are reported open. The Los Angeles County EOC has been deactivated. Current personnel assigned: 4,687.  Estimated containment date is September 15, 2009.(Region IX, NIFC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Hurricane Fred
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Category Two Hurricane Fred was located about 500 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. Fred is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph.  A turn toward the northwest, and then north-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. Satellite images indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is forecast and Fred could become a major hurricane later today. Weakening is expected to begin on Thursday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center. Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 85.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical Storm Linda
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Linda was located about 1,300 miles west-southwest  of the southern tip of Baja California.  Linda is moving north-northwest near 2 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue with a gradual increase in forward speed during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some modest strengthening is possible today; however, weakening is forecast to begin on Thursday.  Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday afternoon.

Western Pacific
No activity threatening 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 Tuesday, September 8, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (75 new fires)
New large fires:  2
Large fires contained:  4
Uncontained large fires:  7
States affected:  CA, OR, WA, WY, MT, NM, and UT(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Kansas requested a major disaster declaration for the State of Kansas as a result of severe storms during the period of July 8-14, 2009. The Governor specifically requested Public Assistance for six counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 09-Sep-2009 08:03:49 EDT