Tuesday, July 20, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Thunderstorm complexes continue today from the Central Plains to the Ohio Valley. Severe thunderstorms are likely from western South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas to Ohio. Damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes are possible and rainfall could reach five inches in some areas, with flash flooding possible. Temperatures will reach highs in the 90s in the lower Ohio Valley and Missouri, to over 100 degrees in Kansas.
Northeast
Thunderstorms are forecast from the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley to Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. Some of these storms could become severe, with damaging wind gusts, hail and over one inches of rainfall possible. There is a minimal threat of thunderstorms and showers from New England to Virginia. Humidity will remain very high in the southern Mid-Atlantic and temperatures will reach highs in the 90s from Connecticut to Virginia.
South
Scattered thunderstorms are forecast from southeast Texas and Louisiana to the Carolinas. The possibility of these storms becoming severe will be minimal but rainfall could reach over an inch. The Southern Plains to Arkansas will remain dry. High humidity will continue for the entire region with high temperatures in the 90s. The Oklahoma Panhandle will see temperatures reaching 100 degrees.
West
Thunderstorms are possible from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico, with Montana and Wyoming seeing the highest chance of thunderstorms. Some of the storms in eastern Wyoming could become severe with large hail. The Great Basin and far West will remain dry. The Central Valley of California and the lower elevations of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, will see high temperatures of over 100 degrees. The Desert Southwest will see high temperatures between 100 to 125 degrees.
(NOAAâs National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources)

Flooding on the Rio Grande River, Texas â Update

Situational Update:
The situation is currently stable with low-laying areas down-river from Falcon Dam in Major Flood stage. Outflows of Falcon Reservoir are holding steady at 60,000 CFS and will remain at this rate for several days. The Rio Grande River at Rio Grande City remains at Major Flood Stage, but appears to have crested and is slowly receding. The river was at 55.85 feet at 1:15 a.m. EDT on July 20. The Rio Grande River at Laredo and at Columbia Bridge is at Minor Flood Stage, and continues to recede.
Flood operations continue at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs. Releases from the dams are expected to continue for the next several days. Mandatory evacuations continue for the City of Roma and the City of Los Ebanos (Hidalgo County) and lower elevation neighborhoods near Falcon Lake. Voluntary evacuations continue in the cities of La Joya, Penitas (Hidalgo County) and La Gruella (Starr County).
Mississippi Canyon 252 Update

FEMA is providing personnel and equipment support. Seepage and undetermined anomalies have been detected near the capped wellhead. There remains no oil flowing from the well and the well integrity test remains satisfactory.Â* Booming and skimming operations continue as weather permits. More than 827 thousand barrels of oil and 1.8653 million cubic feet of gas have been recovered to date. Coastline impact has increased to approximately 622 miles, impacting AL, FL, LA, MS, and TX.
Cowiche Mills Fire Update

The Cowiche Mills Fire fire went from 3,000 acres to 7,000 acres burned in five hours. Approximately 8,000 acres have been burned and the fire is zero percent contained. 150 primary residences in the Yakima County subdivisions of Summit View, Summit Extension, Marble, and Tillman (total population 1,500), are threatened. Three homes have been burned. Voluntary evacuations are in place, and 600 residents have evacuated
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:Â*
A tropical wave over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is becoming better organized and there is a medium chance (30%) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone over the next 48 hours. The system is moving west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph. This system could bring gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph and locally heavy rainfall to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas over the next 48 hours. Parts of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have already reported rainfall totals of over 5 inches. Additional rainfall could cause localized flooding and mud slides especially in mountainous areas.
Eastern and Central Pacific:Â*
No tropical cyclone activity expected in the next 48 hours.
Western Pacific:
No systems affecting U.S. interests.Â*(NOAA, NWS, NHC, CPHC JTWC)Â*
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Monday, July 19, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity:Â* Light (148 new fires)
New large fires:Â* 5
Large fires contained:Â* 4
Uncontained large fires:Â* 9
States affected:Â* WA, CA, CO, WY, MT, ID and AKÂ*(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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