Tuesday, October 18, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Northeast
Showers swirling around a storm north of the Great Lakes will pass through northern New York and northern New England today making conditions wet and windy. Some areas can expect pick up 3 inches of rain in those regions.
South

Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are expected along much of the Southeast coast, including most of Florida up through Georgia and the Carolinas by the end of the day. Up to 3 inches of rain is possible. Elsewhere, much cooler temperatures will spread into the southern Plains, Texas, and Tennessee Valley with highs in the 60s and lower 70s, also bringing with them the potential for rain and thunderstorms.

Midwest
Heavy rain, up to 4 inches, is possible in the Great Lakes Region with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below average in and around the Middle Mississippi Valley behind a strong cold front. Additionally, a low pressure system tracking northward over the Lower Mississippi Valley will produce showers and thunderstorms and rain over parts of that region this morning.
West
A persistent upper level ridge will slowly slide east, keeping conditions west of the Rockies fairly pleasant for many locations. Expect mostly clear skies with temperatures near average. However, increased clouds with isolated showers are possible by tonight from northern California into Oregon due to an upper-level disturbance coming from the Eastern Pacific.

Significant Activity

Unusual Event, Watts Bar Unit One Nuclear Power Plant
At 9:33 p.m. EDT, Oct.17, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was notified of an Unusual Event by the Watts Bar Unit One Facility located 10 miles south of Spring City, Tenn. The UE declaration was due to a high atmospheric concentration of ammonia on a lower elevation of the turbine building (not an ammonia leak). The high ammonia concentration was due to open drain valves on a vacuum pump used in conjunction with ammonia to treat the secondary water. Atmospheric ammonia levels exceeded 3 times the OSHA limit of 25 ppm (actual amount was 75-79 ppm). The plant continued to operate at 100 percent and the NRC remained in a Normal Response level. The NRC advised that the Unusual Event was terminated at 12:47 a.m. EDT, Oct.18. There was no request for FEMA assistance and no injuries or damages were reported.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf
Area 1
As of 2 a.m. EDT, a broad area of low pressure was producing a large cluster of showers and thunderstorms and winds to tropical storm force over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The system was centered just north of the Yucatan Peninsula. However, the circulation was becoming elongated north-northeastward over the central Gulf of Mexico. The potential for this system to develop appeared to be decreasing and it had a low (20%) chance of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. The system will move north-northeastward at 10 to 15 mph later today, but regardless of development, it was expected to produce locally heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and possible severe weather over the Florida Keys, Florida Peninsula, Southern Georgia and coastal sections of the Carolinas over the next day or so.
Eastern Pacific
No tropical cyclone activity is expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
Area 1
As of 2 a.m. EDT, a weak low pressure area was centered about 880 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. The system was generating very few thunderstorms as it moved slowly west. Atmospheric conditions were not favorable for significant development and there was a low (10%) chance of this system becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours.
Elsewhere, no tropical cyclones are expected through Wednesday evening.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Monday, Oct.17: National Preparedness Level 1. Initial wildland fire attack activity was LIGHT with 14 new fires. There were two new large fires but no large fires were contained. Three large uncontained fires are active in Georgia, Arkansas, Minnesota and Arizona
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


More...