Wednesday, August 4, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:Â*
The region will be mostly dry except for occasional showers stretching from Montana to northern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. High temperatures between 100 and 119 degrees will persist in the Desert Southwest.
Midwest:
A frontal system stretching across the region will produce severe thunderstorms in portions of Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota. Further east, the front will produce showers and thunderstorms from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley. Some of the thunderstorms will be severe, with gusty winds and the risk of flash flooding in some locations. An excessive heat warning has been issued for much of the Middle Mississippi Valley with high temperatures surpassing 100 degrees.
South:
Excessive heat warnings are in effect for much of the Southeast with high temperatures surpassing 100 degrees. Scattered thunderstorms are expected across the Southeast.
Northeast:
A frontal system moving eastward will bring severe thunderstorms to the Mid Atlantic region producing gusty winds and heavy precipitation.
(NOAA and media sources)

Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel and equipment support. The static kill operation including cementing the oil well is ongoing. The second drill rig is holding operations at 10,743 feet below the sea floor awaiting results of the primary relief well effort. Approximately 643 miles of coastline are impacted by the oil spill.
Â*(NIC Daily Situation Update)

Geomagnetic Storm

On August 1, Earth-orbiting satellites detected a solar flare originating from an Earth-facing sunspot. This type of solar flare, known as a C-class, is relatively small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth besides auroras (often known as the Northern Lights). Beginning on Aug. 4, the effects from this flare will be visible as auroras in the northern latitudes of the United States from northern Michigan to Maine. On Aug. 5, the flareâs effects will be felt more strongly and could result in some radio and minor power grid fluctuations. The aurora may be visible as far south as New York and Idaho. The Sun goes through a regular activity cycle about 11 years long. The last solar maximum occurred in 2001 and its recent extreme solar minimum was particularly weak and long lasting. These kinds of eruptions are one of the first signs that the Sun is waking up and heading toward another solar maximum expected in 2013.
(NASA, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ and FEMA HQ)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:Â*
The remnants of Tropical Storm Colin are located about 250 miles east of the Leeward Islands moving west-northwestward near 25 mph. Upper-level winds are expected to remain unfavorable for redevelopment for the next day or two. There is a low chance, 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone again during the next 48 hours. Locally heavy rains and strong gusty winds are possible over portions of the Leeward and Virgin Islands today and tonight.Â*
Elsewhere in the region, disorganized cloudiness showers and thunderstorms over the Central Caribbean Sea are associated with a tropical wave. Some slow development of this disturbance is possible over the next few days as it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph. There is a low chance, 20 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
A broad area of low pressure about 700 miles south of Baja California, Mexico is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is moving west- northwestward at 5 to 10 mph and upper-level winds are expected to remain unfavorable for development. There is a low chance, 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific:Â*
Â*A surface trough about 800 miles southeast of Hilo is moving west at 18 mph. Isolated thunderstorms around this trough persist but are poorly organized. There is a low chance, 10 percent, of a tropical cyclone developing within this trough over the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No activity.Â*
(NOAA, JTWC)

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 3, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (165 new fires), new large fires: 3, large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: 9, U.S. States affected: WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, WY & NV
(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Texas
The President approved a major disaster declaration (FEMA-1931-DR-TX) for Texas as a result of damage caused by Hurricane Alex from June 30 and continuing. The declaration makes nine counties eligible for the Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Programs and all Texas counties eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
(HQ FEMA) Â*



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