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National Situation Update: Friday, May 26, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Northeast:  The storm system that produced so many showers and strong thunderstorms across the Midwest yesterday will do the same across the Northeast and Middle Atlantic regions today. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms could produce damaging winds and hail from New York City southwest to central North Carolina. A few showers and thunderstorms will linger over parts of New England tomorrow but the rest of the weekend looks dry over many locations.

West:  A trough of low pressure aloft will plant itself over the Northwest this weekend resulting in frequent showers and afternoon thundertsorms plus well below average temperatures. Areas across the Intermountain West and Great Basin will remain dry and the Desert Southwest will be sunny, as well, with slightly cooler highs by tomorrow.

Midwest:  Severe weather will move away from the Midwest and dry conditions will prevail through much of the holiday weekend.

South:  Look for strong to severe thunderstorms across the eastern Carolinas while scattered thunderstorms erupt over Florida. Isolated thunderstorms are possible across parts of West Texas. The weekend will feature a few isolated thunderstorms but most areas will be dry.  (NWS, Media Sources)

NOAA Announces Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu expects two to three tropical cyclones in the central Pacific basin in 2006, a slightly below average season. In a typical year, four to five tropical cyclones will form or cross into the area, according to National Weather Service hurricane experts, with two storms reaching hurricane intensity.

"Many factors are considered in the seasonal hurricane outlook," said Jim Weyman, director of NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center. "Data from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center shows near normal tropical ocean temperatures, which typically means less tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific. In addition, atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns will likely produce a below normal season in the eastern Pacific. Fewer storms in the eastern Pacific will contribute to a below normal season in the central Pacific."

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle declared May 21-27 Hurricane Preparedness Week in the state, and released a proclamation calling upon government agencies, private organizations, schools, and the news media to share information about hurricane preparedness and calling on everyone to take appropriate safety measures to protect themselves.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s area of responsibility extends from 140 degrees west to the international date line and north of the equator. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., covers the Eastern Pacific, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30. NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Eastern North Pacific Names

(These lists are also re-cycled every six years (the 2005 list will be used again in 2011).

Tornado Touches Down In Gratiot County; No Damage Confirmed

A weak tornado touched down Thursday night in Gratiot County, near Ithaca, Michigan, stirring up dust and light debris in open fields, but there was no significant damage reported, authorities said. The tornado touched down at 8:40 p.m. for about five minutes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids indicated. It was reported as severe thunderstorms swept across the state. There was no confirmed damage as of Thursday night from the tornado, which touched down near the border of Bethany and Emerson townships, northeast of Ithaca.  (Media Sources)

Firefighters Make Progress On Several Wildfires

Fire crews have been burning out brush in the path of a 12,000-acre fire burning in grass and brush near Animas, and officials said fire containment lines held Thursday despite intense fire activity.

The Adobe Fire, burning south and east of Animas and on Animas Mountain, was 40 percent contained. The blaze, reported Sunday, was started by lightning.  A State Forestry Division spokesman said the battle against the fire will continue through the night.  Some 80 people are assigned to the blaze, helped by engines, water tenders and a helicopter.

A lightning-sparked blaze that charred 5,500 acres in Mora County and briefly threatened several structures has been contained. Crews were mopping up hot spots on the Cerro Fire.

A lightning-caused fire burned 300 acres of mixed conifer and ponderosa pine trees on media mogul Ted Turner's Vermejo Park Ranch in northeastern New Mexico. The Brilliant 2 Fire, west of Raton, was declared contained Wednesday.

Officials in the Gila National Forest of southwestern New Mexico were using four lightning-sparked blazes to clear out hazardous fuels. The largest blaze, the 509-acre Taylor Fire, was reported May 15 west of Truth or Consequences.

Wildfires have scorched tens of thousands of acres of both desert land and high-country timber in New Mexico this week.  (Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Initial attack activity was light nationally with 83 new fires reported. Three new large fires were reported, two in the Rocky Mountain Area and one in the Southern Area. Four large fires were contained, one each in the Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Southern and Western Great Basin Areas.  Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.

A warming and drying trend is underway over the Southwest, Great Basin and Rocky Mountain Areas. Dry air remains over northern Florida, with higher humidity over the central and southern portions.  (National Interagency Fire Center, NWS, Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-DR-1642-MA declared May 25, 2006 for Severe Storms and Flooding from May 12, 2006 and continuing.  The disaster provides for Individual Assistance to Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk Counties, and assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to all counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

FEMA-DR-1643-NH  declared May 25, 2005 for Severe Storms and Flooding from May 12, 2006 and continuing.  The disaster provides for Individual Assistance to Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford Counties, and assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to all counties in the State of New Hampshire.

FEMA-DR-1644-DR-ME declared May 25, 2006 for Severe Storms and Flooding from May 13, 2006 and continuing.  The disaster provides Individual and Public Assistance to York County, and also provides assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for York County.

FEMA-DR-1631-MO, and FEMA-DR-1635-MO approved for closure on June 15, 2006.  (FEMA HQ)