Wednesday, September 29, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

South
Heavy, flash-flooding rain will develop across southern and eastern Florida, coastal Georgia and the Carolinas and parts of the Florida Peninsula could receive 4 to 8 inches of rain. Tropical storm force winds will accompany the rain, especially from the Keys to the Atlantic beaches. The Southeast may see scattered thunderstorms, but the remainder of the South will be sunny, pleasant and dry
Northeast
After a very short break in the wet weather, a new storm developing along the Southeast Coast will bring additional heavy rain to the southern Mid-Atlantic by this evening. Tropical moisture and low pressure, including TD 16 (possibly to become TS Nicole), will stream northward into the region Thursday. Heavy rainfall will expand from Virginia and eastern West Virginia northward to New York and western New England and could exceed 6 inches, causing flash flooding. Gusty winds are likely as well. Heavy rain could linger into Friday from Pennsylvania and New Jersey northward before exiting into eastern Canada.
Midwest
A dry, cold front will move southeastward through the Plains and northern Mississippi Valley Wednesday, though a few showers may develop across the Upper Midwest.
West
The West remains dry and hot with temperatures from average to 20 degrees above average. Highs will range from the 70s in Montana to between 100 and 117 degrees across the Desert Southwest. The California coast will cool down but the interior areas will remain hot. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for portions of Wyoming through this morning.
(NOAA and media sources)

Flooding in Minnesota and Wisconsin

The Region V Regional Response Coordination Center remains at Watch/Steady State. A FEMA State Liaison Officer is deployed to the Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center and Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway.
In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin River at Portage has crested and conditions along the Caledonia-Lewiston levee stabilized and water levels are expected to drop rapidly. The flood-impacted area should see dry weather conditions for the next week. Wisconsin reports are no unmet needs or requests for FEMA assistance at this time.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.(HQ FEMA)
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
Tropical Depression Sixteen is located near 100 miles south of Marathon, Florida. The depression is moving north-northeast at 9 mph. The center of the depression will move over the Florida straits later this morning and be near or over southeastern Florida by this evening. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for areas of the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, the Florida Keys, and Sebastian Inlet south to East Cape Sable and Florida Bay. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the area north of East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee, Florida. Some strengthening is forecast and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today.Â*
A tropical wave is located about 975 miles east of the Windward Islands but development, if any, of this system is expected to be slow. There is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central, Eastern, and Western PacificÂ*
No tropical cyclones are expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)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 28, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (112 new fires), new large fires: 1, large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 0, U.S. States affected: UT, NC & AK
(NIFC)
Disaster Declaration Activity

On September 28, 2010, the President signed major disaster declaration DR-1939 for the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands for damages from Hurricane Earl occuring August 29 - 31, 2010.Â* The declaration makes the islands of St. Croix, St John, and St. Thomas and Water Island eligible to apply for the Public Assistance Program. All islands in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.Â*
(HQ FEMA)Â*



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