Skip to content

National Situation Update: Friday, September 11, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast
Rain is expected from southern New England and southeast New York down through eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. Some locations in the Delaware Valley and lower Hudson Valley could receive several inches of rain.
An easterly wind may create rough surf, dangerous rip currents, coastal flooding at high tide, and moderate beach erosion.

Midwest
Thunderstorms forecast over the south-central Midwest will move north to the lower Missouri Valley and the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Rain will continue over parts of the high Plains

South
Much of the South will have showers and thunderstorms. Eastern Tennessee, eastern Georgia and the Carolinas will remain dry today. An area of low pressure forming along the Texas Gulf Coast Saturday will move northward across eastern Texas and Arkansas. This will result in locally heavy rainfall across the south-central states including the worst of the drought area over southern Texas

West
Above average temperatures continue for the next days is expected west of the Rocky Mountains.(NOAA's National Weather Service and Various Media sources)

California Wildfires

Station Fire - Angeles National Forest
FMAG-2830-FM-CA was approved on August 28, 2009.
The Station Fire has burned 160,357 acres and was 71% contained as of 9:00 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept 10. Firefighting efforts are concentrated on the east flank in the San Gabriel wilderness and Mount Wilson areas. Since the blaze began there have been two firefighter deaths and ten people injured. The Station Fire has been declared arson, and is being treated as a homicide investigation. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution that offers deepest sympathy to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives in the Station Fire, honors first responders who continue to risk their lives fighting the wildfires throughout California. The Station Fire is moving into an area with no fire history.  Currently there is no increase in reported injuries or threatened residences or commercial facilities. Mount Wilson Communication Facility continues to remain threatened.  There are no shelters reported open, but some roads remain closed throughout the area. Containment of the fire is expected by September 15, 2009. (Region IX, NIFC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Hurricane Fred
At 2 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Fred was located about 745 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Fred has weakened to a Category One hurricane and is moving north near 3 mph.  The storm is expected to drift northward or north-northeastward over the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 85 mph with higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected over the next couple of days. Fred should weaken to a tropical storm sometime tonight.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

Area 1
Shower and thunderstorm activity has increased in association with a non-tropical area of low pressure located just east of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. This system remains associated with a frontal boundary and an upper-level low.  Development into a tropical or subtropical cyclone is not expected due to unfavorable upper-level winds; there is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system increasing in intensity during the next 48 hours. Heavy rain, gusty winds, and minor coastal flooding are possible along portions of the Mid-Atlantic Coast over the next day or so.

Area 2
Widespread showers and thunderstorms over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico are associated with a system near the Texas Coast that will be stationary over the next couple of days. There is a low chance, less than 30 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible along the Gulf Coast from northeastern Mexico to Louisiana over the next day or two.

Eastern Pacific
Tropical Storm Linda
At 2:00 a.m. EDT, Linda was located about 1,360 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California. Linda has weakened to a tropical storm. The storm is moving toward the north-northwest near 8 mph. A decrease in forward speed and a turn toward the northwest are expected over the next couple of days. The maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 24 to 48 hours, and Linda will likely weaken to a tropical depression by Saturday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 100 miles from the center.

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

The National Preparedness Level is 2 for wildfire activity. As of Thursday, September 10, 2009 there were 118 new fires, two new large fires, and five uncontained large fires affecting the states of CA, MT, OR, FL, and WY. (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Indiana - The Governor has requested a major disaster declaration for the State of Indiana as a result of severe storms and flooding during the period of August 4-9, 2009.  The Governor requested Individual Assistance for 9 counties, Public Assistance for 10 counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

New York - An amendment for major disaster declaration, FEMA-1857-DR-NY, was received on September 10, 2009 for the State of New York.  The amendment adds Chenango and Cortland counties for Public Assistance

Last Modified: Friday, 11-Sep-2009 08:30:16 EDT