Monday, April 25, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
A quasi-stationary front will extend from New England through the middle Mississippi and Ohio valleys to the Southern Plains. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for much of the region. The additional precipitation will exacerbate ongoing flooding. Flood and Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect see www.weather.gov/largemap.php for the latest information. Severe thunderstorms (producing hail that is at least quarter size, 1 inch in diameter or larger, and/or wind gusts to 58 mph or greater, and/or a tornado.) are possible from eastern Texas to Ohio. The thunderstorms will produce locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
South
The southern end of the quasi-stationary front extending from the Midwest will produce showers and severe thunderstorms from Oklahoma and central Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley.
The Lower Mississippi Valley could receive almost 5 inches of precipitation over the next 24 hours. The rest of the region will have showers and isolated thunderstorms. Critical fire weather is forecast for southwestern Texas, with gusty winds southwest from 35 to 45 mph and gusts to 60 mph. Additional thunderstorm activity is expected tomorrow.
Northeast
The frontal system across the region will produce extensive precipitation; only northern Maine and southern portions of Virginia will remain dry. Showers and thunderstorms are expected along the front and a few severe thunderstorms are possible over the Mid-Atlantic. Some areas could receive an inch or more of precipitation.
West
A Pacific storm will move rapidly inland today, producing showers and mountain snow from the Pacific Northwest and northern California inland to Wyoming, Colorado and northern New Mexico.The Pacific Northwest will receive an inch of rain and almost a foot of new snow in the highest elevations of the Cascades. The Northern and central Rockies will receive a half a foot of snow. The storm will produce wind gusts to over 100 mph on the Sierra ridge tops. Gusty winds as high as 65 mph in the desert areas of Nevada and southern California will produce blowing dust reducing visibility to less than one mile at times. Critical Fire Weather is forecast for southern Arizona and New Mexico, with gusty winds between 40 and 50 mph.
Severe Weather â Kentucky, April 23 & 24 (Final)

Severe weather has moved across the state of Kentucky, impacting one county.
Carlisle County
Reported six commercial buildings have sustained major damage or are destroyed.Â* Approximately 11 homes have been damaged or destroyed and one church had major damage. No fatalities were reported though there were unconfirmed reports of minor injuries. Damage assessments are ongoing.

Severe Weather â St Louis, Missouri, April 23

Current Situation:
NWS confirmed and EF-4 tornado touchdown in Bridgeton (Greater St. Louis), and EF-2 touchdown at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Pontoon Beach near Granite City, and an EF-1 touchdown in New Melle, St. Charles County.
Currently the St Louis International Airport (Lambert) opened for limited to normal operations. No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported. However, 750 homes are damaged and at least 100 destroyed. Two American Red Cross shelters are open with an overnight population of 42 on April 23.
Many local streets are closed to facilitate debris/recovery operations.
IA and PA PDAs have been requested for the counties of St. Charles, St. Louis, and the independent City of St. Louis. They will be scheduled to begin on April 26.
Power Outages:
Approximately 11,000 customers are without power and natural gas turned off in some areas of the St. Louis Metro area. Restoration date unknown.
State and Local Response:
The Missouri Governor declared a State of Emergency April 22 for the areas impacted by the severe weather.
Midwest Spring Flooding

Current River Conditions
Ongoing precipitation across the Midwest is producing widespread minor to major flooding along many rivers in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and along the Mississippi River all the way to Chester IL. Â*
For the latest information see:
NWS Significant River Flood Outlook: Â*www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/nationalfloodoutlook/Â*
The Ohio River Forecast Center (OHRFC): www.erh.noaa.gov/er/ohrfc/index.shtmlÂ*
North Central River Forecast Center: www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc/content/water/fop.php
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Sunday, April 24, 2011

• National Preparedness Level: 1
• Initial attack activity: Light (56 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 2
• Large Fires Contained: 1
• Uncontained Large Fires: 13
• Type 1 IMTs Committed: 2
• Type 2 IMTs Committed: 2
• States affected: TX, FL, & NM (NIFC)

Wildfire Activity
Texas
PK Complex Fire (4 combined fires) - Palo Pinto, Young and Stephens counties, TX
FMAG-2888, FMAG-2893 and FMAG-2895 approved.
126,734 acres have been burned and the fire is 50% contained. Over 600 homes are threatened and 160 have been destroyed.Â*The estimated containment is April 30. (Texas Forest Service, Reg VI))
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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