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National Situation Update: Friday, October 12, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West:  A Pacific storm system will bring rain to the coast and coastal range throughout California, with snow levels dipping to about 7,000 feet.  The storm system will continue eastward, through the West and into the Plains resulting in showers and, in some higher elevations, snow in the Rockies.  High temperatures will stretch from the 90s in Arizona to the 70s in Denver, Colorado and Casper, Wyoming.

Midwest:  Much of the Midwest will enjoy sunshine on Friday with highs ranging from the 40s in the upper Midwest to the low 80s in southwest Kansas.  The only exception will be some isolated thunderstorms from western Nebraska down to the Texas panhandle.

South:  Sunshine is forecast for much of the South; however, temperatures will be low.  Temperatures will start out on the colder side at the upper 30s across the southern Appalachians.  Highs will begin below average; then, rapidly move to above average across the South this weekend and into the upcoming week.

Northeast:  Moderate rainfall amounts are expected over Maine and at lower elevations, but above 1800 feet, snow could accumulate several inches in the Tug Hill Plateau and Adirondacks.  The rest of upstate New York and New England will see frequent showers and windy conditions into Sunday.  High temperatures will range from the 40s and lower 50s in most of Pennsylvania, upstate New York and northern New England to the 70s in southeast Virginia.  (NOAA, NWS and Media Sources)

Update - Train Derailment

A freight train derailment and subsequent chemical fire occurred in Painesville, Ohio at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Oct 10, 2007.  There have been no injuries reported.  The burn has subsided; and the propane tanker no longer poses a threat of explosion.  The fire department is allowing the remainder of the material to burn off.  The plume intensity has dissipated; however, it continues to be monitored and sampled.  The evacuation radius has been reduced to a quarter mile with a total of 550 people evacuated.

CSX will be taking the lead on mitigation under the direction of the National Transportation Safety Board.  CSX will extinguish each rail car as it is removed.  Temporary roads are being built to transfer personnel and equipment to the scene since Route 44 and Route 2 remain closed.  (National Infrastructure Coordination Center, FEMA Region V, DOT and Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
At 5:00 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Depression Fifteen was located 925 miles east of Bermuda.  The depression is moving toward the east near three mph.  Maximum sustained winds are at 35 mph with higher gusts.  A drift toward the northeast is expected over the next 24 hours.  The Depression is expected to encounter unfavorable upper-level winds later today and weakening is expected during the next 24 hours.  No US territories or interests are threatened.
Further south, shower activity extends from the northwestern Caribbean Sea across Cuba, the Bahamas and into the Atlantic for a few hundred miles in association with a surface trough.  Tropical cyclone formation is not expected in this area.
Elsewhere tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours. 

Eastern Pacific:
A broad trough of low pressure is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms that extend up to several hundred miles off the coasts of El Salvador, Guatemala and southwestern Mexico.  Some slow
development is possible as this system remains nearly stationary over the next couple of days.  Elsewhere, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central and Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings are expected during the next 48 hours.
(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Several minor earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 3.0 - 3.6 have occurred along the Mount Augustine Volcano located near Cook Inlet, Alaska over the past 24 hours.  No damage or injuries were reported and no tsunami warnings were issued.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, NOAA, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)  

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level: 1
States Most Affected: None.
Uncontained Large Fires: None.
National Fire Activity:  No new fire activity to report. Due to low fire activity, the Wildfire Incident Management Situation Report will be updated on Fridays, unless there is significant activity to report. (National Interagency Coordination Center, National Incident Information Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)