Monday, September 13, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms with possible strong winds and lightning may occur over portions of the Southern Plains through this evening. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected across the Florida Keys and adjacent coastal waters throughout the week.
West
Most of the region will be dry today with the exception of far northwest Washington and in higher terrain, where showers are possible. Temperatures across the region will range from the 70s to the 90s. In the Desert Southwest, temperatures are expected to be in the 100s.
Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms moving southward from the Great Lakes will move into the Northeast today. New York and New England could see showers and thunderstorms with possible gusty winds and hail this afternoon.
Midwest
Thunderstorm activity is expected in the Central Plains through Tuesday, particularly Nebraska and Iowa. Some storms may become severe with damaging winds, hail and tornadoes possible. Cooler temperatures are expected in the Northern Plains and Great Lakes for the remainder of the week, highs will be in the 50s and 60s with overnight lows falling into the 40s and 50s. Frost may develop in portions of northern Wisconsin this evening.Â*
(NOAA and media sources)

Fourth Warmest Summer on Record

Temperatures from June to August this year represented the fourth-warmest summer on record for the contiguous United States. For three climate regions, Southeast, Central and Northeast, summer temperatures were among their five hottest ever.
Abnormally warm temperatures dominated much of the east, where a record warm summer occurred in ten states. Nineteen other states experienced âmuch above normalâ average temperatures, and several cities broke summer temperature records, including New York (Central Park); Philadelphia; Trenton, NJ; Wilmington, DE; Tallahassee, FL; and Asheville, NC. Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee experienced their second warmest August on record, while fourteen other states had August temperatures among their warmest ten percent.
For the year so far, from January through August 2010, the Northeast climate region experienced its warmest temperatures ever. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Jersey each had their warmest year-to-date period, and all of the Northeastern states ranked in the top ten percent of warmest periods on record. Only Florida and Texas had below normal temperatures for the period.
To learn more about these climate records, see NOAA web site. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories..._augtemps.htmlÂ*
(FEMA HQ, NOAAâs National Climatic Data Center)Â*

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Activity

FEMA-FM for the Reservoir Fire, Larimer County, CO approved September 12, 2010.
(HQ FEMA)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
Hurricane Igor is a vigorous Category 4 Hurricane located 940 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands moving toward the west at 13 mph. The storm is expected to fluctuate in intensity and may become a Category 5 storm later today. It has maximum sustained winds of 150 mph extending 40 miles from the center and tropical storm winds extending 175 miles from the center. Igor is expected to turn west-northwest in about 24 hours and then move northwest during the next few days.
Tropical Storm Julia is 80 miles west-southwest off the Cape Verde Islands of West Africa with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm is expected to curve toward the northwest tomorrow and maintain its strength or slightly increase during the next 48 hours.
Another area of low pressure located over the central Caribbean Sea is conducive for some development and has a medium chance, near 40 percent, of becoming a tropical cyclone the next 48 hours. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible over portions of Hispaniola; including Jamaica, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, especially in mountainous terrain.
Central, Eastern and Western PacificÂ*
No tropical cyclone activity is expected in 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 Sunday, September 12, 2010:
Initial attack activity: light (41 new fires), new large fires: 1, large contained fires: 2
Uncontained large fires: 5, type 1 IMTs committed: 1, Type 2 IMTs committed: 1
U.S. States Affected:Â* WY, UT, WA, CA, & ALÂ*(NIFC)
Colorado Wildfires
The Reservoir Road Fire in Larimer County, CO began Sunday, September 12, and has burned approximately 650 acres with 10 percent contained. The fire could threaten the Pinewood reservoir, which serves as the water supply for the City of Loveland, CO. There are no injuries or fatalities reported. Approximately 150 homes are threatened, and mandatory evacuation orders were issued for 250 residents within four miles of Pinewood Reservoir. A FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved for the Reservoir Road Fire on September 12. A Type 1 Incident Management Team, that is managing the Fourmile Canyon Fire, is also supporting the Reservoir Road Fire. Eight air tankers and four helicopters were reassigned from the Fourmile Fire in Boulder County.
(FEMA Region VIII, Loveland, Larimer County EOC, InciWeb, and media)Â*
Fourmile Canyon Fire (Boulder County, CO)Â*
The Fourmile Canyon Fire that began Monday, September 6 consumed 6,250 acres but is now 87 percent contained. There are no fatalities. Boulder County authorities revised the number of structures destroyed to 166 and nearly all are residences. Several evacuations, road closures, trails/trailhead, and National Forest closures remain in effect. Today the Boulder County Sherriffâs department is implementing a phased re-entry over the next few days to allow residents into the burn area to return to their homes. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FEMA-2855-FM-CO) was approved on September 6. A Type 1 Incident Management Team assumed command Thursday, September 9.
(FEMA Region VIII, Boulder County EOC, Great Basin NIMT, Inciweb and media)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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