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National Situation Update: Saturday, July 28, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South
More heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecasted for southwestern Louisiana and southern Texas through Sunday morning.  In these areas, there can be 2-4 inches of rainfall during the next 24 to 36 hours, with localized excessive rainfall of 8 inches or more possible.

Highs across the Southwest will be in the 80s and 90s.

Midwest
A cold front passing through the upper Midwest will bring severe storms over the Ohio Valley and may produce heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts in excess of 50 mph from southern Ohio into Kentucky. 

Highs will be in the 80s for most of the Midwest.

Northeast
A slow moving cold front will produce strong scattered storms with heavy rain and gusty winds over much of the Northeast.

Highs will be in the 70s and 80s through the weekend for most of the region.

West
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Desert Southwest and into the central Rockies of Colorado. 

High pressure in the Intermountain West will increase temperatures into the 100s throughout the weekend from Montana to Arizona.  (NWS, Media Sources, FEMA Daily Regional Report)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new information to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern Pacific:
The remnant low of former Tropical Depression Dalila is located  about 550 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California and is moving west-northwest around 10 mph.  Regeneration of this system is not anticipated.

Elsewhere tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No significant tropical activity to report. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Four (4) earthquakes with magnitudes 4.9 - 5.1 were reported July 27 between 4:22 pm and 5:30 pm PDT approximately 280 - 300 miles west of Portland, OR. There are no reports of injuries or damages or tsunami.(NOAA, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Public Assistance PDAs for Kansas were completed July 27, 2007 for storms that occurred in June, 2007.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level:   5

National Fire Activity as of Friday, July 27, 2007:

• Initial attack activity: Light (195 new fires)
• New large fires: 4
• Large fires contained: 8
• Uncontained large fires: 36 (compared to 43 previous day)

Weather Discussion: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Interior West from Arizona through the southern and central Rockies and over much of the East and Southeast. (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center, InciWeb, NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Missouri:  Effective July 26, amendment 2 was approved for FEMA-1708-DR-MO, adding a county for Individual Assistance.
Kansas:   Effective July 26, amendment 4 was approved for FEMA-1711-DR-KS, adding two counties for Individual Assistance. (FEMA HQ)