Tuesday, November 2, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
A front moving onshore over the Pacific Northwest will bring light to moderate rain and gusty wind conditions to the Northern Rockies, in some places up to 60 mph. An area of high pressure over the Great Basin will keep most of the region dry.
Midwest:
The region will generally be cool and dry except for a warm front that will produce scattered rain showers over the northern portions of North Dakota and Minnesota.
South:
Showers and thunderstorms are expected over the Gulf Coast and portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley through Wednesday. Heavy rain will continue in the Central Gulf Coast from East Texas to Louisiana and flash flooding is possible in these locations. Southern Florida and the southern East Coast will see showers and isolated thunderstorms through Wednesday.
Northeast:
High pressure will keep the region cool and dry today.
(NOAA and media sources)
October Tropical Weather Summary

As predicted earlier this year, Hurricane Season 2010 has turned out to be a record-maker. So far this season, overall tropical cyclone activity to date is about 164 percent of the long-term median. In October, the record number of hurricanes is six, observed in 1870. But in 2010, five tropical storms formed in the Atlantic Basin and all became hurricanes. In fact, the long-term average for October storms from 1944-2009 averages only two tropical storms and one hurricane.
A preliminary summary of the tropical activity for this season is as follows:
NameDatesMax Wind (mph)H Alex25 June-2 July105TD Two7-8 July35TS Bonnie22-24 July40TS Colin2-8 August60TD Five10-11 August35H Danielle21-31 August135H Earl25 August-5 September145TS Fiona30 August-4 September60TS Gaston1-2 September40TS Hermine6-8 September65H Igor8-21 September155H Julia12-20 September135H Karl14-18 September120H Lisa21-26 September80TS Matthew23-26 September60TS Nicole28-29 September40H Otto6-10 October85H Paula11-15 October100H Richard21-26 October90H Shary29-30 October75H Tomas29 October-Present100(NOAA's National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWSAT.shtml)
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Tomas is located about 355 miles south of Port au Prince, Haiti moving west near 12 mph with maximum sustained winds around 50 mph and gusts to near 65 mph. The storm is expected to gradually strengthen until Friday when it is expected to move north-northeast toward the Windward Passage and portions of Hispaniola. Interests in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic should continue to watch the progress of the storm.
Central, Eastern, and Western Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Wildfire National Preparedness: Level 1
National Fire Activity as of Monday, November 1, 2010:
Initial attack activity: light (21 new fires), new large fires: 5, large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 13, U.S. States affected: MS, LA, FL, KY, VA, OK, CO, & MO (NIFC)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No activity.
(HQ FEMA)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-DR-1942-DR was approved on Nov. 1, 2010, and makes four additional North Carolina counties eligible for the Individual Assistance program. (FEMA HQ)
Stay informed of FEMA's activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.


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