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National Situation Update: Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

California Wildfires Support Update

California OES reports 23 fires with two fires less than 100% contained. 
Over 500,000 acres have burned within 7 counties since October 21; 3,201 structures were destroyed and 246 structures damaged. Over 7,800 personnel are still involved in fire fighting efforts. 

Fatalities remain at 7, with 139 fire victims injured of which 121 firefighters.
The American Red Cross (ARC) reports that one ARC managed shelters remain open with a total population of 61.   (JFO Situation Status Summary, Pasadena, CA and the United States Forest Service)

National Weather

South
Freeze warnings extend from Oklahoma to northern sections of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia and into the Carolinas.  Frost, from southeast Virginia into eastern South Carolina, away from the ocean and over parts of southeast Mississippi and southern Alabama.  Mostly sunny across the region with highs ranging from the 50s in northern Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and the northern sections of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to the 80s in far south Florida and parts of extreme western Texas.

Northeast
Higher elevations downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario will continue to pick up lake-effect snow.
Some locations will see at least six inches of snow.  Lower elevations and areas near the lake shores will see rain mixing with or changing to snow but accumulations will be on the light side.  Snow showers will extend down through western Pennsylvania and into the higher elevations of West Virginia and extreme western Maryland.

West
The West will be warm and dry.  Large ocean swells will bother the coast of Southern California and there may be a little coastal flooding at times of high tide.   Dangerous rip currents will also be present.
High temperatures should range from the 40s in the northern Cascades and northern Rockies to the 90s along the lower Colorado River Valley and southwest Arizona.

Midwest
Lake-effect snow across northern sections of Michigan. The rest of the region will be dry with mild southwesterly winds increasing across the Great Plains.  High temperatures will range from the 30s in the northern portions of the Upper Midwest to the 70s in far western Kansas.(NOAA, media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
A non-tropical low pressure area centered about 700 miles south-southwest of the Azores continues to produce disorganized showers and a few thunderstorms. Tropical or subtropical development of this system is not expected as the low moves toward the east at about 5 to 10 mph.
Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

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

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

Earthquake Activity

At 11:48 a.m. EST, Saturday, November 06, 2007, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred 112 miles south-southwest of Adak, AK, at a depth of 6.2 miles.  No tsunami occurred due to this event. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)