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National Situation Update: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Hot and Dry Weather for Most Parts of the U.S.

Hot and dry weather is forecast for much of the U.S. on Tuesday. One exception will be New England and eastern New York where a cold front pushing southwestward from Canada will keep highs in the 60s. However, on the East Coast south of New England, temperatures will be warmer with highs in the 90s in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Most parts of the South are expected to see very hot and dry weather with high temperatures in the 80s-90s. A few spots in western Texas will see 100+ temperatures.

Highs in the Midwest will range from the 70s-80s.

Most parts of the West will be dry on Tuesday with highs ranging from the 50s in the northern Rockies to 100+ in the Desert Southwest.

The clash between high and low fronts will create a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of the Central/High Plains. A slow-moving cold front will bring scattered thunderstorms across the region extending from the Upper Mississippi Valley south into the southern Plains including West Texas. The scattered storms could contain rain, hail, and gusty winds.

Heavy rainfall is expected in parts of southeastern Texas where flood watches will remain in effect.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Tropical Storm Aletta is Downgraded to a Depression

Aletta has been downgraded to a 35 mph tropical depression by the NWS National Hurricane Center at 11:00 p.m. EDT, May 29 2006. Aletta's cloud pattern is highly disorganized and there is very little deep convection associated with the cyclone.

Aletta is moving westward away from the Mexican coast. At 11:00 p.m. EDT, the center of tropical depression Aletta was located near latitude 16.0 north, longitude 101.8 west or about 120 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. There is very little chance that the storm will re-strengthen. Aletta is forecast to weaken to a remnant low within the next 72 hours.

Aletta is expected to maintain a generally westward motion through the forecast period. (NWS National Hurricane Center)

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 wildfire activity at 8:00 a.m. Monday was light nationally with 52 new fires reported. Seven new large fires were reported, three in the Southwest Area, and one each in the Alaska, Eastern Great Basin, Rocky Mountain, and Southern California Areas. Two large fires were contained, one each in the Southern California and Rocky Mountain Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, and Utah.

Wildfire Forecast:  No critical areas have been identified for Tuesday. The western states will continue to see relatively moderate winds and dry weather. Scattered showers/thunderstorms will be common along the frontal boundary extending from the Great Lakes into the Central/Southern Plains as well as portions of the Gulf Coast States/Tennessee Valley/Mid-Atlantic States.

In New Mexico, modest winds (15-20 mph) accompanied by hot/dry conditions are expected. The outlook in Florida is promising although temperatures will be in the 90s. Relative humidity will be high and wind speeds will remain low (10-15 mph).(National Interagency Fire Center, NWS, Storm Prediction Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)