Wednesday, October 6, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Showers and thunderstorms are expected across portions of Southern California, the Great Basin, and the Four Corners region today. A modest threat for isolated severe storms exists from central and northern Arizona into southern Utah. Showers will spread north into portions of the Pacific Northwest tonight into Thursday. High temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal in portions of central and southern California today and around 5 to 10 degrees below normal across most of California and Nevada on Thursday.
Midwest
High pressure will build across the Northern Plains today with cooler temperatures expected across the region. On Thursday, high temperatures will return to 20 degrees above normal in the Northern Plains.
South
Seasonably warm and dry conditions are expected over the region today. Dry fuels combined with low relative humidity will increase fire danger during the afternoon in portions of the Southeast.
Northeast
Expect showers across New England, Upstate New York, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia today. Steadier rain is likely across northern New England.Â* By Thursday, showers will gradually come to an end from south to north and only northern New England and portions of upstate New York should be under any threat of rain.
(NOAA and media sources)

Exploration of the Undersea San Andreas Fault

From September 10 to Oct 3, 2010, NOAA scientists conducted an expedition to begin mapping the Northern San Andreas Fault from north of San Francisco to its termination at the junction of three tectonic plates off Mendocino, California. Because very little is known about the offshore fault this scientific exploration may prevent future tragedies like the damages caused by the Great Earthquake of 1906 that nearly destroyed San Francisco.
In the past, scientific investigations in the area were impeded by weather patterns and poor land access due to erosion, vegetation, and urbanization. During the recent expedition, scientists used high-resolution sonar mapping, subsurface seismic data, and imaging with digital cameras to create a three-dimensional model of the undersea Northern San Andreas Fault and its structure. Relating this 3-D model with ongoing studies of the ancient records of seismic activity in this volatile area may help scientists to better understand past earthquakes and to help better understand the potential for earthquakes in the future. For more information visit: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/welcome.html and www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100930_sanandreas.html

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
Subtropical Depression Seventeen is 270 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico moving northwest at 8mph with sustained winds of 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected within the next 48 hours and could become a tropical or subtropical storm later today. Heavy rainfall is possible in the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico during the next day or so.
Central, Eastern, and Western PacificÂ*
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)Â*

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Tuesday, October 5, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (85 new fires), New large fires: 1, Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 4, U.S. States affected: UT, ID, CO, WY, LA & AR
(NIFC)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)Â*
No activity. (HQ FEMA)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
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