Wednesday, August 25, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the Desert Southwest from Southern California to New Mexico, especially during the evening hours. Record and near record temperatures are expected along the entire West Coast. Inland areas will have temperatures from the 90s to as high as 110 degrees in the inland valleys.Â* Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for Southern California and the Desert Southwest through this evening. Red Flag Warnings will remain in effect throughout the day in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Midwest:Â*
A cold front stretching from the Great Lakes to Texas continues to move across the region. There is limited moisture associated with this front, so only isolated showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast as the front crosses the Ohio Valley. Temperatures behind the front will be much cooler than experienced in recent weeks. Highs will range from the 60s to the lower 80s.
South:Â*
The cold front extending from the Midwest will produce showers and thunderstorms across Texas. The threat will be limited to gusty winds and heavy precipitation. The front across the southeast will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms from the Big Bend area of Florida to North Carolina.
Northeast:Â*
A low-pressure system off the New England Coast will continue to produce precipitation from the Mid-Atlantic to New England.Â*Â*(NOAAâs National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources)Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

California â Post Fire â near Lebec, Kern CountyÂ*
A FMAG was approved at 8:00 p.m. EDT, Aug 24, 2010 for the Post Fire located near Fraizer Park, Kern County, California.Â* Approximately, 1,500 acres consumed and 0% contained.Â* About 400 residents evacuated from Fraizer Park (Population: 2,800) and 25 structures are threatened.Â*(HQ FEMA)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:
Hurricane DanielleÂ*
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Danielle was located about 795 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands (1,000 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico). Danielle is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph. A turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. The maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph, with higher gusts. Danielle is a Category 1 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Area 1
A broad area of low pressure located about 200 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands is accompanied by a large area of cloudiness and showers. Although there has been little change in the organization of the associated shower activity over the past few hours, environmental conditions remain conducive for the formation of a tropical depression during the next couple of days. There is a high chance (90 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwestward near 15 mph.
Area 2
A surface trough over the central Gulf of Mexico is producing disorganized cloudiness and a few thunderstorms. Development, if any, of this system is expected to be slow to occur as it drifts westward or west-southwestward. There is a low chance (10 percent) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific:
Tropical Storm FrankÂ*
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Frank was located about 200 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. Frank is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through Friday. On this track, Frank will continue to move away from the southwestern coast of Mexico. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible and Frank could be a hurricane later today.
Central Pacific:Â*
No tropical cyclone activity is expected through Thursday evening.
Western Pacific:
No activity.(NOAA, NWS, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
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, August 24, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (158 new fires), new large fires: 4, large fires contained:Â* 6
Uncontained large fires: 18, U.S. States affected: CA, OR, WA, ID, MT, NV, CO &WYÂ*(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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