Midwest
A cold front moving from the western Dakotas to eastern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley may bring showers and thunderstorms today. Flood Warnings continue for numerous rivers in Illinois and Indiana. Highs will range from the upper 60s in the Upper Midwest to the 80s across the central Plains.
Northeast
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the coast of Maine from Stonington eastward to Eastport. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the coast of Maine from Port Clyde eastward to Eastport.
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the coast of Maine south of Port Clyde to Cape Elizabeth, including the Portland area.
An upper level system may bring showers and scattered thunderstorms to the Mid-Atlantic and the remainder of the Northeast.
High temperatures will range from the 60s in Maine to the upper 70s south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
South
Most of the region will be dry except for a few showers or thunderstorms in the Carolinas and scattered thunderstorms over the Florida Peninsula. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT for most of the Florida Big Bend due to expected long durations of relative humidity below 35 percent. Numerous Flood Warnings remain in effect for portions of Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana. High temperatures will range from the 80s in most of the region to the 90s in Texas.
West
Most of the region will be dry with a few isolated thunderstorms in the Nevada Great Basin and Four Corners region. Temperatures will range from the 50s in the mountains to the 100s in the Desert Southwest. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)
State
With hurricane and tropical storm watches posted for portions of the State of Maine, the Maine Emergency Management Agency is urging all Mainers to take appropriate safety and preparedness steps, and is coordinating with county, local and federal authorities to ensure that the State is prepared for the storm.
Governor Baldacci and senior members of his Administration participated in a conference call this afternoon with the National Weather Service, US Coast Guard, State Emergency Response Team, public utilities, County and local emergency management officials. The following actions have been taken by the Governor, state, federal and local agencies to prepare for the storm:
FEMA Region I
Region V
Ohio
FEMA Region VI
Louisiana
Texas
Atlantic/Caribbean:
Hurricane Kyle
At 5:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Kyle was located about 205 miles south-southeast of Nantucket, MA. Kyle is moving toward the north near 24 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected later today. On this forecast track, the center of Kyle is forecast to pass east of Cape Cod, MA later today and approach the coast of Maine and the Canadian Maritimes tonight or early Monday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph, with higher gusts. Kyle is a Category One hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. No significant change in strength is forecast during the next 12 hours, with gradual weakening expected thereafter.
Area 1 - Low Potential for Tropical Cyclone Development
A broad area of low pressure over the Yucatan Peninsula and the northwestern Caribbean Sea continues to produce a large disorganized area of cloudiness and showers. Some slow development of this system is possible during the next couple of days as if drifts northward.
Eastern Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting United States Territories.
Western Pacific:
No tropical cyclone activity affecting United States Territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
National Fire Activity as of Saturday, September 27, 2008:
National Wildfire Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: Light (92)
New large fires: 0
Uncontained large fires: 6
Large fires contained: 0
States with large fires: CA, OR (NIFC)
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Monday, 29-Sep-2008 08:19:14 EDT