Thursday, October 7, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Scattered showers are possible throughout the region but most of the rain will be light with heavier precipitation at the higher elevations and snow possible at the highest peaks. Showers will push into the Plains by Friday evening as a new Pacific system approaches the West Coast.
Midwest
The Midwest will be dry with near normal temperatures.
South
Much of the South will enjoy mild autumn weather through the remainder of the week. The combination of light winds, low relative humidity and warmer temperatures will increase the risk of fire across the Southeast today. Subtropical Storm Otto will pull tropical moisture across Puerto Rico as it slowly moves away from the area. The potential for showers and isolated thunderstorms will remain high. River and small stream urban river flooding is possible.
Northeast
Temperatures will return to near normal today with strong gusty winds in portions of New England. (NOAA and media sources)Â*
Severe Storms and Tornadoes in Northern Arizona

On October 6, 2010, several tornados impacted Coconino County, AZ. Fast moving super cells produced golf ball to tennis ball-sized hail, heavy rain, and wind gusts in excess of 75 mph in nearby Maricopa and Pinal Counties. A train derailed near Bellemont, AZ, overturning 28 railcars but there was no HAZMAT release reported. There were reports of downed trees and power poles but power service has been restored. Several semi trucks were overturned on I-40; and flooding and downed power lines resulted in the temporary closure of I-17. There are no requests for FEMA assistance.
(FEMA Region IX, NOAA)

Yellowstone's New Monitoring System

A new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sensor system was installed in Yellowstone National Park this summer. This month the system began automatically transmitting temperature measurements from geysers and hot springs in the parkâs Norris Geyser Basin and will provide scientists and the public with near âreal timeâ data on whatâs happening in one of the nationâs most active geysers.
New radio equipped sensors were installed at different spots within the geyser basin to record temperatures within runoff channels from geysers, hot pools, soils and even air. Data gathered by the new sensors will be available within 24 hours to allow rapid assessment of changing conditions. This information will help scientists track temperature changes in local streams that might correlate with seismic tremors and help park officials monitor thermal features for public education and safety.
The temperature sensor network is part of increased monitoring of Yellowstone by the USGS and its partners at the University of Utah and Yellowstone National Park. For more information visit the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Website.
(USGS, volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/)

National Fire Prevention Week (Oct 3-9, 2010)

Since 1922, National Fire Prevention Week has been observed each October to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. According to FEMAâs United States Fire Administration (USFA), fires killed more Americans than all other natural disasters combined in 2009. Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in residential fires, a number that could be reduced with the increased use, and better maintenance of smoke alarms. For more information about the National Fire Prevention Week 2010 theme, "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With,â visit: http://www.nfpa.org or http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/foc...larms2010.shtm
(FEMAâs U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of MexicoÂ*
Subtropical Storm Otto is located 235 miles northeast of Grand Turk Island with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The storm is nearly stationary but is moving north at 2 mph with winds of 40 mph extending out 105 miles from the center. On the forecast track, Otto should remain well to the east of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands and could transition into a Tropical Storm later today, and become a hurricane during the next 48 hours. Additional heavy rainfall is possible in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico during the next day or so.
A different area of low pressure is producing showers and thunderstorms over the west-central Caribbean Sea midway between Honduras and Jamaica. Development of this disturbance, if any, should be slow to occur and there is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Eastern PacificÂ*
A small low-pressure area is located about 930 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California. There is a low chance, near 10 percent, of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.
Central and Western Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, JTWC)Â*

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 2
National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, October 6, 2010:Â*
Initial attack activity: light (163 new fires), new large fires: 2, large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 4, U.S. States affected: UT, ID, CO, WY & AR
(NIFC)Â*
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)Â*
No activity.(HQ FEMA)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
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