Monday, September 26, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
A frontal system associated with a deep low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska will produce rain and gusty southwesterly winds in much of the Pacific Northwest. Snow is forecast in the higher elevations of the Washington Cascades. Thunderstorms are possible across the Rockies today and this evening
Midwest:
A low pressure system over the Great Lakes and associated frontal system will produce extensive precipitation. The Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley will pick up one half to one inch of rain today and localized flooding is possible.
South:
Two frontal systems will produce showers and thunderstorms across much of the region through tonight. Unseasonably warm temperatures are expected across much of the region and Texas will have temperatures in excess of 100 and records may be broken.
Northeast:
A front along much of the East Coast will produce showers and thunderstorms from Southern New England to the Mid-Atlantic. The next front approaching from the west willÂ*bringÂ*rain and thunderstorms to inland areas today and spread across much of the region by tonight. Unseasonably warmÂ*temperatures are expected across the region.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf
Tropical Storm Philippe
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located about 600 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands, moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. A turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days.
Area 1

At 2:00 a.m. EDT, a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia was moving west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph a few hundred miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Any development of this system is expected to be slow to occur due to strong upper-level winds and the system has a low (20%) chance of regenerating into a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Hilary
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Hilary was located about 440 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Hilary is moving toward the west near 10 mph and this general motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected to continue through tomorrow, followed by a turn toward the northwest by early Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph with higher gusts, and Hilary remains a Category 3 hurricane. Some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next day or so, but the overall trend should be for Hilary to gradually weaken during the next 48 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Tuesday afternoon.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Sunday, September 25, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (99 new fires)
New Large Fires: 5
Large Fires Contained: 2
Uncontained Large Fires: 15
Type 1 IMT Committed: 3
Type 2 IMT Committed: 2
States affected: TX, FL, OR, MN, CA, WY, NV and ID.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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