National Situation Update: Friday, November 6, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather
West:
A frontal system is producing rain, mountain snow and strong winds from Washington south to central California and as far east as Montana. Rainfall amounts in the higher elevations of Washington and Oregon could be as much as 4 inches with just a few tenths of an inch falling in the San Francisco Bay area. Snow levels will range from 2,500 feet in Washington to 5,500 feet in northern California by tonight. Gusty winds and high surf are forecast for coastal areas from Washington to northern California. Additional systems and precipitation will move ashore through the weekend.
Midwest:
The region will be dry with unusually warm temperatures. Highs will range from the 40s in Michigan to the low 80s in southwest Kansas. On Sunday, a cold front will move eastward across the region bringing a chance of showers.
South:
Under a large high pressure area the region will be dry except for a few showers along the southeast coast of Florida. Low temperatures (30s and 40s) are forecast across Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas this morning. On Sunday, rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the Gulf Coasts of Texas and Louisiana from moisture being pulled out of the Gulf of Mexico.
Northeast:
There will be a few residual showers in Upstate New York and New England from the storm low off the Canadian Maritimes. The low will produce gusty northerly winds along the coast from the Mid-Atlantic to Maine. The region will be generally dry through Monday. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No activity.(FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic
Tropical Depression IDA
As of 4:00 a.m. EST, on November 6, 2009, the center of Tropical Depression Ida was located about 715 miles SSW of Key West, FL (1,150 miles SSE of New Orleans, LA).
The depression is moving toward the north near 6 mph. this general motion is expected to continue with a slight increase in forward speed over the next couple of days. On the forecast track the center of Ida will move across eastern Honduras today and emerge over the northwestern Caribbean Sea tonight or early Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is expected today as the center of Ida remains over land. Some strengthening is likely after Ida emerges over the northwestern Caribbean Sea tonight or early Saturday.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Shower and thunderstorm activity remains minimal in association with an area of low pressure located about 230 miles south of the Mexico/Guatemala border. Any development of this system will be slow to occur over the next day or so before upper-level winds become less favorable for development. There is a low chance (less than 30 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves slowly northward or northeastward.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Saturday evening.
Western Pacific
No activity.(NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
At 1:12 a.m. EST, November 6, 2009, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred approximately 4 miles north-northwest of Dyersburg, TN (74 miles north-northeast of Memphis, TN) at a depth of 6.0 miles. There have been no reports of injuries or damages. (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level: 1
National Fire Activity as of Thursday, November 5, 2009
Initial attack activity: Light (146 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)
Last Modified: Friday, 06-Nov-2009 08:00:19 EST