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National Situation Update: Friday, June 16, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:  Scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted from Minnesota down to Kansas on Friday. A few of these storms will be severe with hail and strong winds. Much of the area from the Plains to the Great Lakes will be windy, as well. 
                                                                                                                   
Northeast:  Most of the Northeast will become dry but temperatures will be on the increase over the next couple of days. By Saturday, look for the 90s to appear across the Middle Atlantic region and Sunday will remain hot.

South:  Clouds, precipitation and lower temperatures will prevail by Saturday and Sunday from eastern Texas and Oklahoma to southwest Missouri, western Arkansas and parts of Louisiana. Some areas, in need of rain, will pick up some significant amounts. Areas east of the Mississippi River will be mainly hot and dry. Cities like Atlanta will be rain-free for some time. Clouds and thunderstorms are forecast over eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas, Arkansas and western Louisiana. 

The last remnants of the season's first named tropical storm had largely moved out to sea early Thursday after sweeping past North Carolina's Outer Banks. Despite the heavy rain, officials said they expected the Tar River in North Carolina to crest without overflowing. High wind and flood warnings lingered in some areas well after the storm passed through.

West:  Friday will feature patchy precipitation across the West. Showers will dot parts of the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies and eastern Colorado. The weekend will be mainly dry across the entire region and the fire danger remains very high across the Great Basin and Southwest.  (National Weather Service, Media sources)

FEMA Region Activity

The Joint Field Office in Rocheport, Missouri for FEMA-1631-DR-MO and FEMA-1635-DR-MO has closed effective June 15, 2006.

Tropical Activity

Atlantic: No tropical storm activity.
Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:  No tropical storm activity.
Eastern Pacific: Shower and thunderstorm activity continues in association with a broad area of low pressure located a few hundred miles south of Acapulco Mexico. This system remains poorly organized and development, if any, should be slow to occur as the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
Western Pacific: No tropical storm activity. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake was reported in the south San Francisco Bay area early Thursday morning, about 6 miles east of San Martin, a town of 4,200 people in a rural part of southern Santa Clara county, and was followed by seven smaller aftershocks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no reports of injuries or damage. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Firefighters have contained the Woody fire (FMA-2643-AZ) west of Flagstaff, Arizona. Residents forced to flee their homes from approaching flames are being allowed to return home. Authorities say the fire burned 120 acres but has been completely contained Thursday. Officials kept residents out in case high winds expected this afternoon kicked up the flames, but the winds were less intense than expected and the fire didn't flare up.

An aggressive 700-acre Colorado blaze Thursday prompted about 100 people to leave their homes in the rolling hills near Westcliffe, about 100 miles south of Denver.

Shifting winds this afternoon are expected to change the direction of a 65,000-acre fire burning along the Parks Highway, near Anderson, Alaska, and fire officials said they are taking steps to protect homes in the blaze's projected path.

A 2,800 acre fire is burning in timber on the Utah side of the Navajo Reservation, approximately 35 miles west/northwest of Page, Arizona.  Media reports that the fire is in the vicinity of the Utah communities of Navajo Mountain and Rainbow City. No structures have been destroyed. There is no estimated containment date. There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time.  Region VIII is continuing to monitor the situation and assist the Utah Office of Emergency Services as necessary.

Fire officials will fan out across Florida during the next few days, flying over brush fire hot spots and digging through smoldering muck to determine whether Tropical Storm Alberto has dampened the fire threat.

Red Flag Warnings:  Friday in the northern and eastern interior of Alaska for strong northeast winds.
Fire Weather Watch: Friday in the northwestern interior of Alaska for strong northeast winds. (National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center, FEMA Region VIII)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)