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National Situation Update: Thursday, September 10, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
An area of high pressure near northern Maine will create possible areas of heavy rain, winds reaching 15-30 mph, and gusts up to 40 mph along the Mid-Atlantic Coast. There may be localized coastal flooding in some areas. Waves produced by the winds are forecast to reach 12 to 15 feet and may cause dangerous rip currents and beach erosion from New Jersey southward. Rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches are expected along the coast, with lesser amounts in eastern Pennsylvania, and the lower Hudson Valley in New York. The heaviest rain may occur in New Jersey.  

Midwest
Scattered thunderstorms are possible in the Ohio Valley. A new cold front in the Plains may produce some severe thunderstorms from the Dakotas to northwestern Minnesota.

South
Localized heavy rain is forecast for the Texas Coast, Gulf Coast and the southern half of the Florida Peninsula over the next couple of days. Scattered thunderstorms are expected along the southern Appalachian Mountains to South Florida and the Mississippi Valley today.

West
Temperature of 100 degrees or higher is expected in Central California and the Southwest Desert for the next couple of days. Firefighting may be hampered by decreasing humidity in the mountains near Los Angeles. A possibility of thunderstorms exists for eastern Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado over the next few days.  (NOAA's National Weather Service and Various Media sources)

California Wildfires

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 were 160,357 acres burned and the fire was 62% contained as of 9:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept 9. There have been 2 firefighter deaths and 10 civilian injuries.  82 residences, 14 commercial structures, 92 outbuildings have been destroyed.  12 residences, 4 commercial structures and 34 outbuildings have been damaged. There are 3,000 residences, 100 commercial structures and 750 outbuildings threatened.  No shelters are reported open. Current personnel assigned: 3,647; Personnel demobilized: 850. Estimated containment date is September 15, 2009. (Region IX, NIFC; CA Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Hurricane Fred
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Category Two Hurricane Fred was located about 705 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Fred is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph.  A turn toward the north with a considerable decrease in forward speed is expected by late today, followed by a turn toward the northeast on Friday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 105 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is likely during the next 48 hours, and Fred is expected to diminish to a tropical storm by Saturday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center. Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Linda
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Linda was located about 1,325 miles west-southwest  of the southern tip of Baja California.  Linda is moving northwest near 8 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue with some decrease in forward speed during the next 48 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next day or two. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Friday afternoon.
Western Pacific
No activity threatening U.S. territories.

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 Wednesday, September 9, 2009:
Initial attack activity: Light (150 new fires)
New large fires:  1
Large fires contained:  3
Uncontained large fires:  5
States affected:  CA, OR, WA, WY, NM, and TX (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 08:10:07 EDT