Tuesday, July 6, 2010
 

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant Weather

West:
The cool, moist onshore flow which has dominated western Washington will come to an end this week as a drier and much warmer air mass will move onshore, raising temperatures in western Washington into the 80s, with some inland locations exceeding 90 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday. Under high pressure, most of the region will remain sunny and dry, with the exception of north-central Utah. A cold front will cross northern-central Utah today with isolated dry thunderstorms possible in the higher terrain of southern-central Utah during the afternoon and early evening hours.
Midwest:Â*
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected from eastern Kansas to northwest Illinois through this afternoon and again on Wednesday. The continued threat of flash flooding is possible from eastern Kansas into northern Missouri and southern Iowa. Severe thunderstorms are possible from southeast Wyoming to central South Dakota through this evening. Large hail, damaging winds, localized flash flooding and the possibility of an isolated tornado may accompany this system. Heat and humidity will persist across southeast Michigan through Wednesday evening with heat indices between 95 and 100 degrees.
Southeast:
Showers and strong thunderstorms are forecast across coastal southeast Louisiana as a low pressure system continues inland during the early morning hours. Locally heavy rainfall amounts of one to three inches are expected, with wind gust of 35 to 45 mph possible. Today scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are forecast from southeast Mississippi to the western Florida Panhandle. Some storms will bring locally heavy rain, wind gust of 40 mph and frequent lightning. A tropical wave located across the northwestern Caribbean is forecast to move into the central Gulf Coast toward midweek. The most significant threat from this system as it moves closer to the coast will be heavy rainfall, isolated thunderstorms and the potential for localized flooding.
Northeast:
Today, a hot and very humid air mass will stretch from the lower Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic States and into central New England. A combination of temperatures in the mid and upper 90s with increasing humidity levels will result in heat indices between 100 and 105 degrees throughout the day. Record temperatures above 100 are forecast across the region through Wednesday afternoon.
(NOAA and media sources)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel to the National Integration Center and additional Logistics and External Affairs support to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator. FEMA leads the Social Services and Small Business Interagency Working Group (Claims and Benefits).
The Flow Rate Technical Group estimates the total oil released as of 5 July is between 2.7 to 4.6 million barrels. Booming, skimming and in situ burning continues as weather permits. The estimated oil spill rate is between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels per day with approximately 490 miles of coastline impacted thus far. NOAA expanded the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone closure to commercial and recreational fishing to 81,181 square miles (approximately 34% of the Gulf).
(NIC Daily Situation Update)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.Â*(FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:
A small low pressure area located near the south-central Louisiana coast is producing a few showers and thunderstorms as it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Development of this low is not expected due to the interaction with land and there is a low chance (near 0 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of southern Louisiana today.
Another broad area of low pressure situated near the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula continues to produce widespread but disorganized cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms. A tropical depression could still form over the next couple of days as this system moves northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. There is a medium chance (30 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible over portions of the Yucatan Peninsula during the next day or so. Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern and Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity expected in the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific:
An area of disorganized showers and isolated thunderstorms associated with a surface trough is located about 900 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Upper level winds in the vicinity of this system are currently not conducive for significant development. However, as the surface trough continues moving westward at 10 to 15 mph, there is a low chance (20 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next two days. Elsewhere, no tropical cyclones are expected through Wednesday evening.
(NOAA, JTWC)

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 Monday, July 5, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (145 new fires), new large fires: 2, large fires contained: 1,
Uncontained large fires: 7, U.S. States affected: AK, AZ, NM, CO, WA, WY & NV
Moapa FireÂ*
The Moapa Fire located near Moapa, Clark County, Nevada approximately 42 miles north of Las Vegas in an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The fire has burned 601 acres and is now 50 percent contained. It has destroyed 18 structures and produced one injury but no fatalities have been reported.
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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