National Situation Update: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Santa Ana winds are forecast to continue in Southern California today.  Peak gusts in the Santa Ana Mountains could exceed 100 mph.  Numerous Red Flag and High Wind Warnings are in effect across California.  Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories are in effect for several areas across Colorado.  Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for several areas across New Mexico.  Flood Warnings and Flash Flood Watches are in effect for rivers in Colorado.
Midwest:
Dry weather is forecast for the northern and central Plains while parts of Oklahoma and Kansas may see heavy rain.  Flood Warnings and Watches are in effect for rivers in Minnesota, Kansas and North Dakota.  Numerous Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories are in effect throughout the region.
South:
Most of the Southeast can expect dry sunny weather with the exception of scattered activity around the Florida Peninsula.  Showers are forecast across parts of Arkansas, western Louisiana and most of Texas.  Some areas of Texas can expect heavy rain.  Flood and Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for rivers in Texas, Arkansas and Florida.
Northeast:
The region will be generally dry except for a few showers over the eastern Great Lakes and northern Maine. (NOAA; National Weather Service; Various Media Sources)

California Wildfire Update

Marin County:
Angel Island Fire

  • Angel Island State Park
  • 400 acres and 75 percent contained
  • 20 State Park and historical structures threatened
  • 1 outbuilding has been destroyed
  • 30 campers and non-essential park employees evacuated
  • Demobilization expected tonight
  • No requests for Federal Assistance have been received (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

Los Angeles County:
The Marek Fire

  • Angeles National Forest and Upper Marek Motorway - Sylmar
  • 4,726 acres and 5 percent contained
  • 39 homes, 30 trailers and 5 outbuildings destroyed
  • 3,000 residences, 200 commercial properties and 600 outbuildings threatened
  • 1,297 personnel assigned to this incident
  • 1 Injury; 1 fatality (LA County Corner confirmed); media reporting 2 fatalities
  • 2 evacuation shelters at San Fernando High School and Sylmar High School 
  • ARC has registered 470 evacuees
  • LA County EOC is active at the duty officer level.
  • FMAG 2788 was approved on October 12, 2008.
  • No further requests for Federal Assistance at this time. (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

LA and Ventura Counties:
Sesnon Fire

  • Browns Canyon
  • 7,000 acres and 0 percent contained
  • 3,500 residences threatened
  • 3,000 evacuated
  • 100 Commercial structures threatened
  • 789 fire fighting personnel
  • 2 evacuation sites at Goebel Senior Center and Sinoloa Middle School
  • The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for LA and Ventura Counties.
  • Ventura County EOC has been activated for this fire.
  • FMAG 2789 was approved October 13, 2008.
  • No further requests for Federal Assistance at this time. (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

San Diego County:
Juliet Fire

  • Camp Pendleton is a Federal Responsibility Area Fire (FRA); burning south-southwest towards the City of Oceanside.
  • 500 acres and 5 percent contained
  • 200 homes on Camp Pendleton and an additional 200 homes in Oceanside evacuated
  • An evacuation point was set up at El Camino High School
  • 5 local government strike teams on scene
  • No requests for Federal Assistance have been received. (CA OES, FEMA Region IX)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

The USGS reports that at 11:07 p.m. (EDT) on October 13, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake occurred 6 miles northwest of Miami, TX at a depth of 3.1 miles.  No damages or injuries have been reported. (FEMA HQ, USGS, National Weather Service West Coast /Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
Tropical Depression Fifteen
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Fifteen was about 350 miles southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The depression is moving toward the southeast near 2 mph. A turn to the east and then northeast is expected today with a gradual increase in forward speed on Wednesday.  Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts.  Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next 48 hours and the system is expected to become a tropical storm today.


Tropical Depression Nana
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Nana was about 1,285 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands.  Nana is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days with some increase in forward speed.  Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph, with higher gusts.  Slow weakening is forecast until the remnant low of Nana dissipates in a couple of days.

99L
A broad area of low pressure is located over the western Caribbean Sea, a short distance east of the northeast coast of Nicaragua.  Cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms associated with the low continue to show signs of organization.  Upper-level winds are very favorable for development, and this system is likely to become a tropical depression within the next day or so if it remains over water.  A slow motion to the northwest near the coast of Central America is expected over the next day or two.

90L
A weak area of low pressure located south-southeast of Tropical Depression Nana, and approximately 1,100 miles west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands, continues to generate some thunderstorm activity mainly to the east of the center.  This system will encounter unfavorable upper-level winds as it moves slowly north-northeastward over the next day or two and significant development is not expected.

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

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

Earthquake Activity

The USGS reports that at 11:07 p.m. (EDT) on October 13, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake occurred 6 miles northwest of Miami, TX at a depth of 3.1 miles.  No damages or injuries have been reported.  (FEMA HQ, USGS, National Weather Service West Coast /Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Monday, October 13, 2008:

  • National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 1
  • Initial attack activity: Light (41 new fires)
  • New large fires: 1
  • Uncontained large fires: 2
  • Large fires contained: 1
  • States with large fires: CA, OR, UT

Fire Weather: Weather conditions around the Great Basin and northern California will include cooler temperatures and gusty winds. Southern California coasts will have moisture. (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Oct-2008 08:34:32 EDT