Tuesday, October 12, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)



Significant National Weather
West:Most of the west will be dry with the exception of showers and thundershowers in portions of Wyoming and Colorado. The interior Northwest will experience cold temperatures in the 20s and lower 30s with teens in the high mountain valleys. Temperatures will vary from as much as 15 degrees below in Colorado to 16 degrees above in California; highs of 90 and 103 degrees expected across the Desert Southwest. An offshore flow across central California will increase highs in San Francisco to near or over 90 degrees today and Wednesday.
Midwest:A cold front moving east from the Plains into the Mississippi Valley will produce limited showers and thunderstorms. As an upper-level low moves into the South, thunderstorms can be expected across portions of Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. Temperatures will vary from near average to 15 degrees above average; while close to record highs are expected in the lower half of the Ohio Valley.
South:The upper-level low will produce scattered thunderstorms from Arkansas to Alabama; a few of the thunderstorms could turn severe across Mississippi, producing hail and damaging wind gusts. The remainder of the south will be dry with the exception of a few thunderstorms over southernmost Florida. Temperatures will remain on the warm side, varying from near average to 16 degrees above average; with above 90 degree temperatures expected in the Carolinas.
Northeast:A stalled east-west front remains over the Mid-Atlantic States. North of the front, rain will extend from New York to southern New England. Strong thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail are possible across New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Temperatures will vary from below average north to between 5 and 16 degrees above average in the southern Mid-Atlantic; record highs remain in Virginia.
(NOAA’s National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources)
Record Rainfall in U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Significant rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Otto began on October 5, 2010 and continued through October 8, 2010. Several rainfall records were broken across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico making 2010 one of the wettest years on record across these Caribbean Islands. As of October 7, San Juan received a total of 69.20 inches of rainfall; nearly a foot above the 58.54 inches that fell by October 7, 1958, the second wettest year to date. On Saint Thomas, a total of 52.65 inches of rainfall accumulated at the Cyril E. King Airport in Charlotte Amalie; more than 3 inches more than the 49.33 inches of rainfall that accumulated by October 7, 1960, the second wettest year to date. While the winter months were significantly drier across Saint Croix than across the northern U.S. Virgin Islands and San Juan, 2010 still ranks as the sixth wettest year to date at the Christiansted Airport on Saint Croix, with 38.42 inches of rainfall through October 7, 2010.(NOAA)
Wildfire Activity
National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Monday, October 11, 2010:
Initial attack activity: Light (46 new fires)
New large fires: 1
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 3
States Affected: AR, OK, and CO.
(NIFC)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No activity. (HQ FEMA)
Tropical Activity
Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico
Hurricane PaulaAt 5:00 a.m. EDT, Paula became the ninth Hurricane of the season. The center of Hurricane Paula is located about 230 miles SSE of Cozumel, Mexico. Paula is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph. A turn toward the north-northwest and then toward the north is expected later today and Wednesday. On the forecast track the center of Paula will approach the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula within the hurricane warning area tonight and Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is possible during the next day or two. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 10 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles.
Eastern PacificTropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central PacificNo tropical cyclone activity is expected through Saturday evening.
Western PacificNo tropical activity affecting U.S. interests.
(NOAA, NWS, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
On October 11, a 4.0 Magnitude earthquake occurred near Guy, Arkansas at 9:33 a.m. EDT. It was located 40 miles north of Little Rock at a depth of 3.4 miles. Minor aftershocks continue to occur. No injuries or damages have been reported.
(USGS)

Disaster Declaration Activity
No activity. (HQ FEMA)

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