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National Situation Update: Sunday, August 3, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
The western U.S. will be warm and dry with afternoon and evening thunderstorms over the interior from Montana southward into Arizona and New Mexico. High temperatures will range from the 60s along the Pacific to near 110 in the lower Colorado River Valley.
Midwest
A frontal system will produce isolated showers and thunderstorms, a few severe, across the Northern Plains. High temperatures range from the upper 70s near the Canadian border in North Dakota and Minnesota to 100 or more in western and central Kansas. Due to the high temperatures and high humidity, Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect along the Kansas and Missouri border and along the Oklahoma and Arkansas border.
South
High heat and humidity will continue in the region. Warm moist flow off the Gulf of Mexico combined with a frontal system will produce scattered afternoon thunderstorms.  Temperatures are expected to range from the mid 80s in the southern Appalachians to a record 109 in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Due to the high temperatures and high humidity, Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for north central Texas including Dallas-Fort Worth, northeast Louisiana and western Mississippi.
Northeast
A low pressure system off the New England coast will produce showers and thunderstorms from eastern New York and northern New Jersey through New England. Highs will range from the mid to upper 60s in Maine to the low 90s in Virginia. (National Weather Service, Media Sources)

Mark Twain Lake – Salt River Flooding in Missouri

Mark Twain Lake experienced a record high water level due to ongoing heavy rainfall and river flooding in northeast Missouri.  Water levels at Mark Twain Lake are dropping with discharge currently 54,000 cfs, and remaining so until further notice. Although the water is falling, officials say the level of flooding on the lake is still serious. Falling waters could quickly rise again if more rain falls into the lake's watersheds. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer officials say they will maintain a precautionary posture for potential additional rain. A Flood Warning continues for the Salt River below the dam. (Region VII, media sources)

Alaska Flooding

A Flood Warning is in effect through 12:00 pm AKDT today. The Tanana River has crested at Nenana and will continue to crest downstream today. Extensive areas of water are covering the lowlands adjacent to the Tanana River upstream of Nenana which will result in a very slow fall in the river level. Flooding is at minor levels. Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor declared local disaster on July 31. The Alaska Rail Road Corp main track is not passable between Denali and Fairbanks.(FEMA Region X)

California - Telegraph Fire Update

The fire has burned 34,034 acres and is 80 percent contained. Zero acres have burned on Yosemite National Park. No anticipated growth unless a significant event occurs. Sixteen minor injuries (all firefighters) have been reported; no fatalities to date. There are 2 shelters open with a population of 19 people. (NSS Daily Report 11:30 a.m. August 2) California OES, Inland REOC and State SOC are activated at the duty officer level. Mariposa County has activated their EOC and an OES representative is on scene.
There are currently 94 crews, 350 fire engines, 65 dozers, 55 water tenders, 16 helicopters, 16 air tankers, and 4,057 total personnel assigned to this fire. The number of destroyed structures is 21 residences and 33 outbuildings; the number of threatened structures has decreased.(Cal Fire)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
A surface trough of low pressure accompanied by showers and thunderstorms is located in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Surface pressures are falling in the area and environmental conditions appear to be favorable for slow development.  This system could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days as it moves slowly to the west or west-southwest.  A reconnaissance plane will investigate the area this afternoon if necessary.

Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with an area of low pressure located about 900 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands is poorly-organized.  Upper-level winds are forecast to become less conducive for development so the chances of this system developing into a tropical depression are decreasing.  The low is expected to move toward the west or west-northwest at 15 to 20 mph. 

A small area of disturbed weather associated with a tropical wave located about 650 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde islands remains poorly organized.  Significant development of this system is not expected over the next couple of days as the wave moves westward at about 20 mph.

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

Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

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

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Saturday, August 2, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 4
Initial attack activity: Light (142 new fires)
New large fires: 10 (Maverick-CO; Sand Shed, Willow-ID; Menard, Taylor-TX; Little Bald Mountain, Wagstaff-UT; Green Lake, Smith Lake-WA; Le Hardy-WY).
Uncontained large fires: 39
Large fires contained: 4
States with Large fires: AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MT, NV, NC, OK, TX, UT, WA and WY (National Interagency Fire Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)