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National Situation Update: Sunday, May 21, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West: A Pacific storm system currently moving ashore in central California will spread precipitation into Southern California and the high deserts tonight. Locally heavy rain is possible in Los Angeles and San Diego tonight into Monday. Scattered thunderstorms are possible across southern and central California during the afternoon and evening hours. Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are also forecast from southern Wyoming to northern New Mexico.

Midwest: The ridge across the central third of the nation will keep the western Great Plains hot and above seasonal temperatures while a trough over the Great Lakes will keep that region cool and below seasonal temperatures. A nearly stationary frontal boundary will produce showers and thunderstorms across much of Missouri, the mid-Mississippi River Valley and eastern sections of the Ohio River Valley. From Kansas to western South Dakota isolated thunderstorms are possible during the late afternoon and evening hours.

South: A stationary front will produce afternoon thunderstorms across northern Georgia and Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. A chance of isolated severe thunderstorms is possible in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and eastern New Mexico along the dryline (the boundary between warm dry air and warm moist air). A ridge of high pressure will spread east into the Southeast, bringing hot temperatures and dry weather from Texas eastward along the Gulf Coast to Florida.

Northeast: A cold front will move across the Northeast producing clouds, showers, and breezy conditions for much of the Northeast on Sunday as a vigorous storm system swings through the region. Scattered thunderstorms are also possible with this storm system during the afternoon hours today from New England to the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia (Del-Mar-Va) Peninsula. The weather pattern is  stagnant with little improvement by the end of the week  (NWS, Media sources)

New England Flooding Update

The Connecticut River is rising in response to the widespread one to two inch and greater rains in Vermont this past Friday. That water is now being routed down the Connecticut and expectations continue for crests to occur on Monday in the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut River could easily remain in flood at Hartford and Middletown into at least Thursday of this coming week.

News media and weather reports indicate that while rains continue in parts of New England, the flood waters in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are still gradually receding, and no new flooding has been reported in those States. 
(National Weather Service, Media Sources)

NOAA To Announce 2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

As part of National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 21-27) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), alongside hurricane preparedness partner organizations will release the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook on Monday, May 22, 2006, 11:00 a.m. EDT. (NOAA)

Tropical Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity in the U.S. or its territories.

Internationally a strong earthquake occurred on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 10:07 pm (EDT). The magnitude 6.0 event was located in the Pacific off the coast of Ecuador at a depth of 6.2 miles. No Tsunami was generated. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs for Public Assistance are scheduled to begin in New Hampshire and Massachusetts on Tuesday May 23.

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Joint Field Office for Illinois 1633-DR-IL closed on May 20, 2006. (FEMA HQ)