Wednesday, September 15, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Most of the region will remain dry today with the exception of afternoon showers in portions of western Washington, Oregon and southern New Mexico. Temperatures are expected to be below average along the West Coast and northern High Plains. Cooler air is expected to move from Canada into the Intermountain West and Northern Rockies by Thursday.
Northeast
Rain will continue along the U.S./Canadian Border in New York and New England. The remainder of the region will be free of precipitation through Thursday. A persistent east to northeast wind will increase the risk of rip currents along East Coast beaches.Â*
Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are expected across the Northern and Central Plains before moving eastward into the Great Lakes by Thursday morning.Â* Storms are forecast to begin this morning and continue through the day across Iowa, northeastern Kansas and northwest Missouri. Some storms could become severe, producing damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes during the mid to late afternoon. Excessive rainfall associated with these storms may lead to flash flooding and river flooding across the Skunk and Lower Des Moines River Basin today through early Thursday morning.
South
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible across the Texas and Oklahoma. Strong winds small hail and cloud to ground lightning are possible.(NOAAâs National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources)Â*
Colorado Wildfires

Â*
The Reservoir Road Fire has burned approximately 710 acres with 35 percent containment. The fire, burning two miles west of Loveland, Colorado and has threatened approximately 200 structures and recreational facilities near the Pinewood Reservoir. Two homes, four outbuildings and one recreational vehicle were destroyed. Evacuations remain in effect for approximately 250 residents within four miles of Pinewood Reservoir.
The Governor declared a State of Emergency for the fire area on September 12, 2010. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FEMA-2857-FM-CO) was approved on September 12, 2010.(FEMA Region VIII; Loveland, Larimer County EOC; InciWeb)Â*
Canyon Fire (Kern County, CA)

The Canyon Fire began on Sunday, September 12, 2010 and has consumed approximately 5,100 acres with 10 percent containment. The fire is burning in the Lower Kern River Canyon west of Lake Isabella, CA.Â* Evacuations remain in effect for residents in Myers Canyon Road south of Bodfish Canyon and Rocky Road. Evacuations are also in effect for campgrounds in Kern River Canyon. The community of Havilah is on stand-by for evacuations.Â*(Kern County EOC; InciWeb)Â*
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Activity

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

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
Hurricane Igor (Category Four)
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Igor was located 570 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and about 1,090 miles southeast of Bermuda. The storm is moving west-northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 145 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward 45 miles from the center. Tropical storm force winds extend outward 225 miles. A turn toward the northwest, with fluctuations in strength, is expected over the next 48 hours. Large swells are impacting the Leeward Islands and will begin to impact Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today.
Hurricane Julia (Category Four)
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Julia was located 525 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands.
Julia has strengthened rapidly over the past several hours, and is now a Category Four Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 135 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible today. The storm is moving northwest at 10 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.
Tropical Storm KarlÂ*
At 5:00 a.m. CDT, Tropical Storm Karl was located 105 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico moving toward the west-northwest at 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph. Karl is moving toward the west-northwest and this general motion is expected to continue with a decrease in forward speed during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Karl will move over the Yucatan Peninsula today and move into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight or Thursday.
Strengthening is possible before Karl reaches the Yucatan Peninsula, and Karl could approach hurricane intensity just before landfall. Weakening is expected after landfall. Re-strengthening is forecast on Thursday, after Karl moves over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, where Karl is likely to become a hurricane.
Eastern Pacific
No tropical cyclone activity is expected in the next 48 hours.
Central PacificÂ*
No tropical cyclone activity is expected through Thursday evening.
Western Pacific
No activity affecting U.S. interests.Â*(NOAA, NWS, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)Â*
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 Tuesday, September 14, 2010:Â*

• Initial Attack Activity:Â* Light (85 new fires)
• New Large Fires:Â* 5
• Large Contained Fires:Â* 1
• Uncontained Large Fires being managed under a full suppression strategy:Â* 8
• Type 1 IMTs committed: 1
• Type 2 IMTs committed: 2
• States Affected:Â* CO, ID, UT, NV, WA, CA, NM, and FLÂ*(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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