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National Situation Update: Thursday, June 8, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

A Quiet Weather Day for the Nation

Northeast: Scattered showers and thundershowers are possible anywhere in the Northeast Thursday.  The wettest weather will concentrate in Maine and New Hampshire where totals could reach a half-inch.

Midwest: Scattered showers and storms are likely from northern Missouri into Iowa, southwest Minnesota and the northern Plains. By evening, a few severe storms could occur in western South Dakota and northwest Nebraska.

South: Most of the South will be sunny and very warm or hot tomorrow with scattered showers and thunderstorms confined to the Carolinas and Florida Peninsula. A few of the storms in the eastern Carolinas could turn severe.

West: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will again dot the Interior West. A few severe storms could erupt over parts of Idaho, Montana and northern Wyoming. Another day of high temperatures over 100 in southeast California and southwest Arizona is expected.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Wisconsin Tornadoes Tuesday Evening

Severe thunderstorms developed rapidly during the early evening of Tuesday, June 6, 2006, across south central Wisconsin. The near storm environment aided in the development of supercells which spawned several tornadoes across Iowa, Sauk, Columbia and Dane counties of south central Wisconsin.  Most likely between 5 and 10 tornadoes touched down in these counties beginning just before 7 pm CDT through about 9 pm CDT.

The Wisconsin Emergency Management reports that in Columbia County at least 20 homes were damaged and that two semi trucks tipped over on I-94/I-39 near Portage.  Power was reported out to 1,200 homes from Baraboo to Portage.  In Iowa County local officials reported one home with major roof damage.  In Dane County local officials reported some minor damage to a few homes along with downed trees and power lines.

Local media indicates that the hardest hit areas were in southern Columbia County in the towns of Newport, Caledonia, and Lewiston.  There were no fatalities but some minor injuries were reported.

No State or Federal assistance has been requested.  (FEMA Region V, 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 189 new fires reported. Nine new large fires were reported, four in the Eastern Great Basin Area, three in the Southwest Area, and one each in the Rocky Mountain and Southern Areas. Four large fires were contained, two in the Southern Area and one each in the Western Great Basin and Southwest Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Alaska, Montana, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, North Dakota and Nevada.

The Parks Highway Fire is burning out -of -control in a westerly direction in hazardous wildland fuels ten miles south of Nenana, AK. Over 2000 acres have burned and 100 homes are threatened.  Homes are scattered throughout the road and river system. The fire has closed the Parks Highway temporarily and 50 homes have been evacuated. The Alaska Railroad is in the vicinity and is threatened.  The fire is burning on both sides of the Parks Highway one of the primary roadways in Alaska. The area is dependant on tourism and the closing of the Parks highway quickly creates a major impact on the local tourist industry. About 12 tour buses have been rerouted.  Fish Creek is near the fire and is a very popular fish stream.  The area has major moose and bear populations and some caribou.  Fire danger has been very high lately due to lack of recent rain and high winds.

On Wednesday morning, June 7, the U.S. Forest Service ordered all residents of Pine Flats, AZ, 75 miles south of Phoenix, to leave as a fire grew quickly after being reported early that morning. Residents were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday evening after retardant drops from air tankers and rain combined to stop the fire. There are no reports of damage or injuries. The fire burned about 125 acres.

Also on Wednesday, a fire that had forced about two dozen residents from their homes and cabins northwest of Dubois, WY on Tuesday was reported to be 80 percent contained by early Wednesday evening, and residents were allowed back into their homes.

National Preparedness Level is 2 (On a scale of 1 to 5)

Red Flag Warning: A Red Flag Warning will remain in effect Thursday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT for the Florida Big Bend and eastern Florida Panhandle due to low relative humidity. (National Interagency Fire Center, NWS, Storm Prediction Center, media sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)