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National Situation Update: Thursday, October 29, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
The system now in the Plains will continue to produce snow and gusty winds from Arizona to Montana. Temperatures will be 10 to 30 degrees below average (20s-40s) through the interior West. A warm front moving in off the Pacific will produce rain in Washington and Oregon and the increasing temperatures will result in rising snow levels.
Midwest:
A frontal system extending from central Canada to Texas will produce widespread precipitation across the center of the country. A wintery mix of rain and snow is forecast for the High Plains from Kansas to North Dakota. A band of rain, rain showers and thunderstorms will extend from the eastern Dakotas to the Great Lakes and south to the lower Mississippi Valley. Some areas will receive more than an inch of precipitation and localized flooding is expected.
South:
The southern portion of the frontal system discussed above will produce heavy precipitation from central Texas to Georgia. The lower Mississippi Valley may receive more than three inches of precipitation in the next 24 hours and flooding is expected. Thunderstorms in the lower Mississippi Valley have the potential to become severe, producing large hail, gusty winds and even tornadoes. The front will move slowly over the Gulf Coast for the next few days and additional precipitation is forecast.
Northeast:
Under a large high pressure area the region will have a brief respite from rain. Tomorrow, the approaching frontal system will bring rain showers and gusty winds.(NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

 No activity. (FEMA HQ) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms associated with a broad trough of low pressure extend from the coast of Mexico near Acapulco southeastward for several hundred miles.  Slow development of this system is possible over the next couple of days as it remains nearly stationary.  There is a low chance (less than 30 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
Scattered thunderstorms persist along a surface trough located 725 miles south of Hilo, Hawaii. Tropical cyclone development within this area, if any, would be slow to occur as it continues moving to the west near 20 mph.
Elsewhere, no tropical cyclones are expected through Friday Afternoon.
Western Pacific 
No activity threatening United States 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:  1
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Initial attack activity:  Light (24 new fires)
New large fires:  1
Large fires contained:  1
Uncontained large fires:  1
States affected:  AZ & CA (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)