Monday, October 3, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
Most of the region will remain dry today as the storm system exits to the east. Some showers will continue this morning across portions of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Across the Northern and Central Plains temperatures will remain above normal ahead of the approaching western storm system. Strong winds and low relative humidity will increase the risk of fire danger across western portions of Kansas; Red Flag Warnings are in effect through this evening.
West:
Light rain, associated with an approaching storm system is expected today across the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Strong winds and moderate to heavy rain and mountain snow will begin by Tuesday in the Intermountain West. Up to 10 inches of snow is expected above 6,000 feet in the Sierras. Strong winds and low relative humidity will increase the risk of fire danger across eastern Colorado; Red Flag Warnings are in effect through this evening.
Northeast:
Low pressure will linger over the Northeast, producing cool and damp weather from the central Appalachians to New England. Light rain will continue this morning over the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. as the storm system moves east.
South:
Most of the region will be warm and dry with the exception of a few showers in southern Florida. Warm afternoon temperatures and low relative humidity in the Panhandle of Florida will increase the risk of fire danger; Red Flag Warnings are in effect through this evening.
Tropical Activity

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Philippe
As of 5 a.m. EDT, Tropical Storm Philippe was located about 745 miles SE of Bermuda moving west at 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph with higher gusts. A west to south-west motion is expected through Tuesday, followed by a turn to the west-northwest and decrease in forward speed.Â*
Tropical Storm Ophelia
As of 5Â* a.m. EDT, Hurricane Ophelia was located about 55 miles west-southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland moving northeast at 43 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 70 mph with higher gusts. A turn toward the east-northeast is expected today. On the forecast track, Ophelia will pass over the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland this morning. Tropical Storm force winds extend outward 230 miles from the center.
Eastern Pacific
As of 2 a.m. EDT Oct., 2, a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this disturbance during the next few days as it moves westward at 5 to 10 mph. This system has a low chance (20%) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
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Central Pacific
Area 1
As of 2:00 a.m. EDT, A compact area of low pressure located about 600 miles south- southwest of Kona Hawaii is moving west near 15 mph. Although showers and thunderstorms continue to develop in association with this system, their organization has been limited, and upper level winds do not appear conducive for further development. There is a low chance, near 0%, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. territories.
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee Recovery
Recovery operations continue in several states across FEMA Regions I, II, III, and IV.
FEMA Region III Regional Response Coordination Center remains activated to Level III (Partial Activation) supporting recovery operations; FEMA Region I, II and IV are at Watch/Steady State. North Carolina, Vermont and Pennsylvania state Emergency Operation Centers remain at Level III (Partial/Enhanced Activation). Five sewer treatment plants and three water treatment plants remain affected in Pennsylvania; Boil Water Advisories remain in effect in three communities. Four shelters remain open in Pennsylvania with 90 occupants.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

At 8:55 p.m. EDT on Sunday, October 02, 2011, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 occurred 35 miles northwest of Kodiak City, Alaska at a depth of 22 miles. A tsunami warning was not generated; there have been no reports of damage or injury. The FEMA National Watch Center will continue to monitor and report any significant changes to this event.
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Sunday, October 2, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (118 new fires)
New Large Fires: 12
Large Fires Contained: 5
Uncontained Large Fires: 21
Type 1 Incident Management Team Committed: 2
Type 2 IMT Committed: 4
States Affected: Texas, Nevada, Minnesota, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
On October 1, 2011, the Governor of Texas renewed his statewide Emergency Disaster Proclamation, originally dated December 21, 2010, for the extreme fire hazard that continues to pose a threat of imminent disaster in specified counties in Texas.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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