Wednesday, September 28, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West:
High pressure dominates much of the region; precipitation will be limited to showers in the Pacific Northwest.

Midwest:
An upper-level low has been nearly stationary in the vicinity of the Great Lakes since last week. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue in the Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee valleyâs and the Great Lakes.
South:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the entire Gulf Coast along the stationary front.
Northeast:
A front combined with a moist southerly flow will bring rain and thunderstorms to the region. Severe thunderstorms are forecast for the Mid-Atlantic and the heaviest downpours will produce localized flash flooding. Central Pennsylvania could get more than an inch of rain.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf
Tropical Storm Philippe

At 5:00 am EDT the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located about 930 mi west of The Cape Verde Islands. Philippe is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph. A turn toward the northwest with a gradual increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some slight weakening is expected during the next day or two and Philippe could become a tropical depression tonight or Thursday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center.

Tropical Depression Ophelia
At 5:00 am EDT the center of Tropical Depression Ohelia was located about 205 mi east of the northern Leeward Islands. The depression is moving toward the northwest near 3 mph. A turn to the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Slow strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days and Ophelia is expected to become a tropical storm again later today. Ophelia is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over the northern Leeward Islands.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Hilary
At 5:00 am EDT, the center of Hurricane Hilary was located about 640 mi west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Hilary is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph. A turn toward the north-northwest is expected during the next 12 to 24 hours followed by a turn toward the north on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 90 m ph with higher gusts. Hilary is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Steady weakening is forecast today, followed by a rapid weakening on Thursday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 85 miles
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central PacificÂ*Â*
No tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday evening.
Western Pacific
There are no tropical cyclones threatening U.S. Territories.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Tuesday, September 27, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (95 new fires)
New Large Fires: 3
Large Fires Contained: 3
Uncontained Large Fires: 11
Type 1 IMT Committed: 3
Type 2 IMT Committed: 1
States affected: TX, OK, MN, CA, OR, NV, ID, WY and AZ.

Disaster Declaration Activity

Maryland
On September 26, 2011, the Governor requested a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Maryland as a result of the Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee during the period of September 6-14, 2011. The Governor is specifically requesting Individual Assistance for 4 counties, Public Assistance for 6 counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.



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