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National Situation Update: Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South: Bands of snow are moving eastward from Oklahoma to Missouri and perhaps northern Arkansas. A few locations may see over 6 inches of snow. Light rain may change to light snow over eastern Oklahoma but amounts will be very light. Areas to the east like Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee may see a fair amount of rain. All of this may bring temporary relief to the fire danger, but not the overall drought. A few strong thunderstorms, some with hail, may erupt across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. A few showers may reach as far east as northern Georgia and the western Carolinas.

Midwest: Rain will spread northeastward from the Plains to the Ohio Valley. Strong thunderstorms may develop across southern sections of Illinois and Indiana. Rain may mix with snow across northern Missouri and in southwestern Missouri, some locales may see up to 6 inches of snow and heavy snow warnings are in effect.

West:  The Pacific Northwest will continue to be battered by rain and windy conditions. Seattle has picked up rain over the last 22 days and more wet days lie ahead. Showers may extend down to San Francisco. The Southwest has become very dry with Phoenix seeing no rain for over 80 days. Heavy snow will blanket the Cascades, Bitterroots, and the mountains of central Idaho and Tetons. It will be quite windy across portions of Montana and Wyoming east of the Rockies.

Northeast:  Look for a good deal of sunshine across the Northeast and temperatures will be near to above average for the season. Look for the current mild spell to last for most of this week. (National Weather Service and Various Media Sources)

Great Plains and Southwest US Wild Fires

• Nationally, fire activity was light with 20 new fires reported early on Monday, January 9, 2006.
• States currently reporting active large fires are: Arkansas (2), Colorado (1), Oklahoma (10), and Texas (3).
• Nine new large fires were reported: one in Colorado, five in Oklahoma, and three in Texas.
• Ten large fires were contained: eight in Oklahoma and two in Texas.
• Louisiana and Arkansas are reporting the vast majority of their fires are under control.
• The majority of the firefighting activity is on State and private land. Federal agencies are supporting the States by filling orders for requested resources.
• Weather Discussion:
  • Red Flag Warning: Northeast Florida for marginally low minimum relative humidity and north-central Texas for low relative humidity.
  • A storm system from the Rockies will bring in cooler temperatures and higher humidity for southern Colorado, eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
  • A high pressure remains over Florida.
  • The US Drought Monitor identifies southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas as an area of exceptional drought with no improvement forecast in the near future. As a result, fire risks remain in the above-normal category for Oklahoma and Texas and little relief in the way of periodic rainfall is foreseen. Warmer than average temperatures are also expected from the southwest US into Texas and Oklahoma, with periodic high winds increasing fire danger.
  • During the period January 16-19, there is potential for areas of significant rain across Louisiana, Arkansas, and to some extent Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Any rain is expected to offer only a short term respite from the extremely high fire danger conditions.
  • Expect periodic gusty wind events to continue through the month. The above-normal fire occurrence area may also include western Arkansas, and northwest Louisiana.
• Arkansas Summary: 1,921 acres. 95 percent contained.
• Colorado Summary: 5,000 acres in Mauricio Canyon (Huerfano County) five percent contained four miles west of Aguilar.
• Oklahoma Summary: 6, 290 acres. Majority of active fires are at least 75 percent contained.
• Texas Summary: 38,427 acres. Majority of active fires are at least 90 percent contained. (National Interagency Fire Center )

Fire Crews Cut Back in Colorado Wildfire

Some firefighters and equipment are being sent home from a Southern Colorado wildfire, dubbed the Mauricio Canyon Fire, after an overnight snow halted the spread of the fire.

Heavy firefighting trucks and aerial tankers were called off the fire Monday, but hand crews will remain at the site for several days to find and extinguish hot spots that are still smoldering under the five to eight inches of snow that fell Sunday night.

Forest Service spokesman said that snow stops the main front of the fire, but also could conceal hot spots that may break out several months from now. (Various Media Sources)

Forest Service Opens New Fire Tanker Base in Lake City Florida

A new U.S. Forest Service Fire Tanker Base has opened in Lake City to combat forest fires. The 14-acre facility is the only base of its kind in Florida, and is owned and operated by the United States Forest Service. It is one of three planned for the Southeast U.S.

During the Florida wildfire season that begins in April, one tanker plane will be stationed there to cover this part of Florida as well as southern Georgia and part of Alabama.

The base held a public opening ceremony Monday, however, the air tanker is not on the base right now, or much retardant either. Officials say almost all of it has been shipped to help fight fires in Texas and Oklahoma,  which is how the federal tanker base system is supposed to work.

The Forest Service has 20 tankers under contract in the U.S. and although each is assigned a home airport, they are dispatched as-needed nationwide depending on which wildfire season is under way.

The base has been developed with a combination of state and federal money because governments at both levels were convinced of the need for the base.

Each tanker can be loaded with 2,400 gallons of fire retardant, which is a mixture of water, fertilizer and gum thickener that makes the retardant stick to plants as well as a red colorant that makes the treated area visible to pilots.(U.S. Forest Service, Various media sources)

Landslide Advisory for Seattle Washington and Neighboring Areas

The US Geological Survey issued the following advisory of possible landslides for the Seattle area: Western parts of King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, Washington. Wet soil conditions and continuing rainfall are likely to result in additional landslides during the next several days. Given the wet soil conditions, landslides are highly probable during intense rainfall or when rainfall amounts exceed one inch in 24 hours. Steep coastal bluffs and other steep hillsides are particularly susceptible to landslides under present conditions. 

Of note, railroad crews spent Friday morning clearing the line between Everett and Seattle after several small mud slides swept over the tracks and shut down Sounder and Amtrak train service. In addition, two significant slides occurred overnight Thursday - one between Golden Gardens and Carkeek parks in Seattle, the other in Mukilteo, near Edmonds.  The slide between Golden Gardens and Carkeek Park covered about 30 feet of track to a depth of about 2-1/2 feet, with rocks and trees up to 25 feet tall.

In addition, heavy snow falling amid gusty winds in the Cascades would continue through Tuesday and the Olympic Mountains were also receiving heavy snows. In the lowlands, the National Weather Service said flooding was possible, but not imminent, for rivers in parts of Western Washington, including Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Pacific, and Grays Harbor counties. Flood watches were also issued for several counties in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. (US Department of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service and US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey)

Tropical Activity

There is no tropical activity affecting US interests in the Eastern, Central, or Western Pacific Ocean. (Source: USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

In the past 24 hours there have been minor earthquakes over 3.0 magnitude reported in Alaska (11) and California (2). A minor earthquake of 3.7 magnitude was reported in the St. Lawrence Valley, Canada, near the U.S. border, 11 miles from Chateaugay, NY (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

The Henryetta Fire located in the Counties of McIntosh and Okmulgee, Oklahoma received a FMAG, # 2616, on January 9, 2006, at 10:07 pm EST.  The fire has burned 2,000 rural acres, and is currently located seven miles from Salem.  Threat to life is 200, and 50 plus homes are threatened.  Most at threat is an oil and gas battery of wells and tanks. The fire started Monday, January 9. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On January 9, 2006, the Governor of Oklahoma has requested a major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance, Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation for all 77 counties in the State, due to the severity and magnitude of the wildfires in the State. (FEMA HQ)