Monday, July 25, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Chicago Flash Flooding

On the early morning of July 23, a powerful storm swept through the Chicago, IL area bringing almost seven inches of rain to parts of Cook and DuPage Counties in less than six hours. Lightning strikes brought down power lines and heavy rains flooded homes, businesses, public facilities, and area roads and highways.
Open source media reported flooding in Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield, Mount Prospect and Palatine, IL. Des Plains, IL was reported as one of the hardest hit communities. The mayor of Des Plains declared a state of emergency due to the flooding. River conditions are improving for the DuPage and Des Plains Rivers, although some areas remain at minor to moderate flood stage.
As of the evening of July 24, open source media reported approximately 9,000 customers continue to experience power outage down from the peaks of storm outages of 160,000 customers.
No evacuations were reported and there are no unmet needs for FEMA assistance.

Souris (Mouse) River Flooding â Minot, ND

Current Situation
As of 4:00 a.m. EDT on July 25, the Souris River at Minot was below action stage (1548 feet) at 1,547.1 feet and is forecast to continue to decline.

Significant National Weather

High Heat and Humidity Continues Over the Central U.S.
Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories are in effect for parts of the Central U.S. Hot temperatures, combined with the high humidity levels, will create heat indices between 100 to 115 degrees during the afternoon hours.
South:
Hotter-than-average temperatures will continue across the Southern Plains. The hot temperatures combined with high dew points will create heat indices above 100 degrees over portions of the Central U.S. Daytime heating and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico will produce a chance showers and thunderstorms along the Central Gulf Coast into the Southeast through Tuesday. Locally heavy rain is possible. Central and southern parts of Texas should remain dry. Temperatures will be nearly 10 degrees above average for the Southern Plains. Highs will be in the 80s & 90s in the Southeast, 90s and 100s in the Southern Plains.
Midwest:
A slight risk of severe thunderstorms is forecast over the Northern High Plains today with storms becoming more numerous and intense tonight. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast from the Lower Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic Regions. Heavy rain is possible for portions of the Upper Mississippi Valley to the Carolina Coast. Temperatures will be nearly 10 degrees above average for the Upper Mississippi. Highs will generally be near or above average across the region and range from around 80 in northern Minnesota and northern Michigan to the 100s in southern Kansas.
Northeast:
A slight risk of severe thunderstorms is possible in northern Pennsylvania, much of New York, and far western parts of New England. The heaviest rainfall is expected to be in northern and eastern New York and Northern New England. Temperatures will generally be near seasonal averages today. Highs will mostly be in the 70s and 80s, with some 90s near Chesapeake & Delaware Bays.
West:
Continued monsoonal moisture and moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Dora will produce showers and afternoon thunderstorms for Southern and Central Rockies and the Great Basin into Monday evening. Upper trough moving through the Northwest will bring some showers and storms to the interior Northwest today and the Northern High Plains tonight. Some severe storms are possible tonight from the Northern Rockies into the High Plains. Much of the Plains will be hotter than average Highs will range from around 60 along the Northern California Coast to the 110s in Death Valley.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of MexicoÂ*Â*

Area 1 (Invest 90L) - At 2:00 a.m. EDT on July 25, disorganized showers and a few thunderstorms over Hispaniola, Eastern Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas are associated with a tropical wave. Significant development of this wave is not expected during the next couple of days as it moves generally westward near 20 mph and interacts with land. This system has a low chance (10%) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds could spread westward across Cuba and the central Bahamas during the next day or so.
Eastern Pacific Â*
Remnant Low Dora (Final) - At 5:00 p.m. EDT July 24, Tropical Storm Dora, downgraded to a remnant low, was last located 150 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lazanro, Mexico and is moving northwest at 8 mph. Dora is expected to turn north-northwest and decrease in forward speed until the system dissipates. Maximum sustained winds are have decreased to near 30 mph with higher gusts. Dora is expected to weaken to a Tropical Depression and then degenerate today. The remnant low is forecast to continue weakening and dissipating over the next few days.
Central PacificÂ*Â*

No tropical cyclones are expected through Tuesday afternoon.

Western Pacific

No significant tropical cyclone activity impacting U.S. interest.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Sunday, July 24, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (143 new fires)
New Large Fires: 5
Large Fires Contained: 6
Uncontained Large Fires: 20
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 5
States affected: GA, NC, TX, OK, NM, AZ, CA, WY, ID, UT, NV & AK.
Wildfires
South Carolina
Hornet Fire, Myrtle Beach (Horry County)
The fire caused by fireworks began on July 3, initially burned 805 acres and was contained. However on July 22, the fire escaped containment. As of July 3, a total of 1,500 acres of private lands have been consumed and the fire is 45% contained. Boggy terrain is reducing effectiveness of fire attack. Approximately 1,200 residences were threatened in and around Myrtle Beach, NC. No evacuations ordered and no shelters are open.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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