National Situation Update: Thursday, May 24, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
National Weather Summary
Severe Storms Forecast for Thursday, May 24, 2007
Midwest: Storms are possible in the lower Midwest Thursday, May 24, 2007, but the primary activity will be in the Upper Midwest southward into eastern Kansas and northern and western Missouri as a front moves eastward in with a strong cold front.
A few storms from Wisconsin and the U. P. of Michigan southward into the mid-Mississippi Valley (north of St. Louis) could be severe, producing large hail and damaging winds.
South: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will cover most of Oklahoma and Texas Thursday, May 24, 2007; storms in southwest Texas could turn severe.
West: Scattered storms will occur in the West Thursday, May 24, 2007 as an upper-air disturbance from the Canadian Rockies moves southward.
The area most likely to see storms, includes far eastern Washington, northeast Oregon, Idaho, the western two-thirds of Montana, and northern and western Wyoming.
Northeast: Scattered thunderstorms may appear over the West Virginia mountains, with isolated storms in western New York and western Pennsylvania.
Minnesota Severe Weather:
There were 12,000 customers reported without power in the West-Metro (Minneapolis) area. Throughout the area tree limbs, debris and in some cases slow-draining rains were obstructing roads. Storms have moved NE into Wisconsin.
Local EM dispatch reports several people have been injured and hospitalized.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for southern Blue Earth County until 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2007 as thunderstorms continue to develop and move slowly eastward. The Weather Service warns that the Cobb River and other local streams and rivers could rise quickly.
Damage assessments are being conducted by State EM but there is no serious damage so far.
The National Weather Service (NWS) had not confirmed a tornado by the time the warning was lifted, but NWS Officials are planning to go to the affected area Thursday morning, May 24, 2007 to assess damage and make a final determination. There has been no request for federal assistance. (FEMA Region V)
South Dakota Severe Weather
Based on revised NWS information a stationary front moved into south-central SD the evening of May 4, 2007 and remained through May 5, 2007, producing rain, hail, flooding and tornados.
There were reports of tornado touchdowns near Emery and Farmer, Hanson County; and the city of Yankton, Yankton County. No injuries or deaths were reported.
The Governor's request to add Public Assistance to his May 14, 2007 request for a major disaster declaration was transmitted to Region VIII on May 19, 2007.
The President signed a major disaster declaration for severe storms, tornados, and flooding occurring on May 04, 2007 and continuing in SD (FEMA-1702-DR-SD)
The declaration includes Individual Assistance for ten (10) counties and Hazard Mitigation state-wide.
Selected elements of the Region VIII ERT are deployed Sioux Falls. The IOF was operational in Sioux Falls, SD at 8:00am CDT on May 23.
The RRCC deactivated at 5:00pm MDT, May 23, 2007. (FEMA Region VIII)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
National Preparedness Level:2
National Fire Activity: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Initial attack activity: 134 (Light)
New large fires: 5
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: 16
Year to Date Fires: 34,172 (Average 30,078)
Year to Date Acres: 866, 561 (Average 801,094)
Fire Weather Discussion:
Southern Georgia and northern Florida will see another day of gustywinds and low humidity. Arizona and Utah will be cool and breezy with warmer and drier air for Nevada. California will be dry with gusty winds extending from the northern sections to the mountains of southern California. (NIFC)
Georgia Wildfires:
Fingers of fire burning from within the Refuge are threatening the boundary and containment lines on the fire's west side.
The communities of Fargo, Moniac, Council and Edith continue to be at risk from the fires burning within the Okefenokee NWR.
Wednesday May 23, 2007, firefighters conducted a successful burnout operation that burned about 8,000 acres, helping them secure about a mile of containment line on the east side, south of Chesser Island. In addition, fire crews dealt with many reburns due to needles that fell with the prevailing easterly winds.
Thursday May 24, 2007 crews will assess the effects of the burnout operation and continue to secure the containment lines on the east side of the fire. Interior burning will continue, so expect to see heavy smoke within the Refuge.
Fact - The Georgia Bay Wildfires have burned more than 571 square miles, an area more than four times the size of Atlanta.
Florida Wildfires:
Fire crews will continue to patrol and improve firelines, as well as do a significant amount of mop up in the interior of the fire. Structure protection crews will remain in place.
Surface fires and ground fires will continue to burn in the south Georgia and north Florida areas until a fire season ending weather events occur, such as several tropical storms.
The Osceola National Forest is closed north of I-10. However, the Osceola National Forest is open south of Interstate-10.
There is a ban on open fires in the Apalachicola, Osceola and Ocala National Forests until August 9, 2007.
Fact - The Florida Bugaboo Wildfire has burn more than 191 square miles, an area almost twice the size of Tallahassee. (National Interagency Fire Center, Georgia Forestry Commission, Florida Division of Forestry, inciweb)
Disaster Declaration Activity
FEMA-1699-DR, Kansas; Amendment No. 3
The incident period for this disaster is closed effective May 18, 2007. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Thursday, 24-May-2007 11:03:47 EDT