National Situation Update: Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Isolated Severe Storms Possible
Northeast: Rain and showers will prevail over much of New England, eastern New York, eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The heaviest, steadiest rain seems likely to soak eastern New England, including Cape Cod. Elsewhere in the Northeast, only isolated showers and thundershowers are expected.
Midwest: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from the Great Lakes to Kentucky. A few of the storms in western Ohio, eastern Indiana and Kentucky could turn severe. Isolated severe storms are possible in parts of the Dakotas late in the day.
South: There is a likelihood of scattered showers and thunderstorms in Louisiana and southern Mississippi. There's also a chance of afternoon storms in southern Florida, parts of Tennessee (where there could be isolated severe storms) and the mountains of North Carolina.
West: Hot weather will persist in the Interior West tomorrow with afternoon and evening storms in the higher terrain of the region. A few severe storms could occur from eastern Oregon into Montana and parts of Wyoming. High temperatures are expected in excess of 110 in southwest Arizona. Portions of southern New Mexico will top 100 while readings climb into the 90s from far eastern New Mexico northward into southeastern Wyoming. (National Weather Service, media sources)
Heat Health Watch/Warning System Debuts in Portland
Portland, OR now joins 14 other metropolitan areas in the United States where the National Weather Service (NWS) is using a customized Heat Health Watch/Warning System to enhance its ability of issuing accurate and timely heat-related advisories, watches and warnings, and inform the public to take action to avoid health risks associated with periods of unusually high heat.
The Heat Health Watch/Warning System is a collaborative tool that measures oppressive air affecting health. It is part of a national focus addressing the impact of this special hazard on urban centers. When unseasonably hot conditions occur, the Portland weather forecast office will issue excessive heat watches, warnings and advisories to alert people in the region to take precautions against the hot weather.
Portland joins the list of cities with the Heat Health Watch/Warning System, which includes Dallas/Fort Worth; Phoenix; Yuma; Philadelphia; Chicago; St. Louis; Cincinnati/Dayton; New Orleans; Little Rock; Memphis; Shreveport, Lake Charles; Jackson; and Seattle. (NWS)
Tropical Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update
Current Situation: Initial attack activity was light nationally with 129 new fires reported. Six new large fires were reported, four in the Southern Area, and one each in the Southwest and Western Great Basin Areas. Three large fires were contained, two in the Southern Area, and one in the Southern California Area. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Montana, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.
Fire fighters near Heber, AZ were trying to contain the lightening-caused North Fire late Monday afternoon. The Fire had only burned 20 acres but was less than a half mile from major electrical transmission lines serving Phoenix.
National Preparedness Level is 2 (On a scale of 1 to 5)
Red Flag Warning: A Red Flag Warning will be in effect Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT for the Florida Big Bend and eastern Florida Panhandle due to low relative humidity.
Red Flag Warnings are also in effect for southeastern Alaska, including the Anchorage and Fairbanks areas until 10 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time Wednesday. (National Interagency Fire Center, NWS, Storm Prediction Center, media sources)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Jun-2006 08:00:34 EDT