National Situation Update: Saturday, March 7, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Significant National Weather
West
A storm system will move out of the Rockies and into the Plains early today, bringing snow to the mountains of Utah and Colorado. Rain and mountain snow will move into Washington and Oregon with snow levels ranging between 1,000 and 2,500 feet. The higher elevations of the Washington Cascades could expect up to a foot of snow in some locations. Red Flag Warnings will be in effect until tonight for much of New Mexico and extreme western Texas due to strong winds and low relative humidity.
Midwest
A storm system will bring rain to the Region today, one to two inches are anticipated. Flood watches are in effect for parts of Iowa, southern Wisconsin and southern Michigan southward into the northern and central parts of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Ground conditions already saturated from recent events are most susceptible to new and increased flooding. Farther south, a wintry mix and freezing rain is forecast from the Minnesota-Iowa border to central Wisconsin. A few strong to severe thunderstorms, some containing large hail could develop over southeast Nebraska, eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Northeast
Moderate amounts of rain is possible across parts of Upstate New York, moving to Pennsylvania on Sunday. Highs this weekend will range from the 30s in northern Maine to the 70s in the Virginias.
South
Strong southwest winds are expected across the Southern Plains into the Tennessee Valley, and fire danger will remain high in the Southern Plains. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)
Texas Wildfires
On Thursday, March 6, Texas Forest Service responded to 24 fires burning 2,511 acres. This included three new large fires in Taylor, Hutchinson, and Ector counties.
Miller Fire (Hildago County): Approximately 1,650 acres have burned; there is 80% containment. Sixty-five homes are threatened and one destroyed. Unknown if destroyed home was occupied. Texas Forest Service has given control to the local agencies. Shelter has been demobilized. Total shelter count was 45.
Tuscola (Taylor County): 350 acres have burned; there is 65% containment. Two homes and one outbuilding have been destroyed, 70 homes and 150 outbuildings have been saved. FMAG #2798 approved on March 5, 2009.
Spring Creek (Hutchinson County): 1,000 acres have burned; no containment has been reported. No structures are threatened.
#1053 (Ector County): 640 acres have burned; there is 85% containment.
Loma del Norte (Brewster County): 800 acres have burned; there is 50% containment. Airtankers and helicopters continue to drop fire retardant. Approximately 150 residences and 100 outbuildings were threatened but have been saved. FMAG #2797 was approved on March 3, 2009.
Wilderness Ridge (Bastrop County): 1,491 acres have burned; there is 95% containment. 29 homes, 12 businesses, and 13 other structures have been destroyed; however, 200 homes, 5 businesses, and 30 outbuildings were threatened but saved; one firefighter was injured. FMAG #2796 was approved on Feb 28, 2009. (TX Fire Service, Mar 6; TX SOC)
Oklahoma - Taloga Fire, Dewey County
Approximately 60,000+ acres have burned; there is 50-60% containment. One firefighter has been reported injured; multiple structures have been destroyed and significant numbers of livestock killed. 90 individuals were evacuated from Putnam, OK; evacuation orders have been lifted for this fire. FMAG #2799 was approved on March 5, 2009.
Fire Management Assistance Grant
No activity. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Western Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
No significant activity. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No activity. (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Monday, 09-Mar-2009 09:27:36 EDT