National Situation Update: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Midwest Power Outages
Severe Weather Outbreak
Strong thunderstorms impacted the Region yesterday, July 19, downing trees and knocking out power
Power outages were reported across multiple states. Restoration continues with only Michigan (11,200 customers without power) and Illinois (3,100 customers without power) reporting significant outages. Power should be fully restored today.
There are no unmet needs, and no requests for federal assistance. (Region V, NWS)
Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary
The U.S. Coast Guard continues closure of the Missouri River for both commercial and recreational use. At this time, the river remains closed from mile 226.3, near Glasgow, MO, to mile 550 near Gavins Point Dam.
There are potential concerns on 4 Federal and 14 non-Federal levees in the Missouri River Basin. These levees currently have less than two feet of freeboard. River rises due to high rainfall events in the basin could impact these levees.
USACE is constructing a 400 foot berm to protect a wastewater treatment plant in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Major road closures in the Missouri River Basin flood area include:
I-29 in Iowa (Exit 32 to US 136 Interchange in MO).
I-680 in Iowa (3 miles west of Crescent area and Exit 62; I-29; Old Mormon Bridge).
I-29 in Iowa (Council Bluffs) – between exit 54A; G Avenue (Carter Lake) and exit 71; I-680 (2 miles south of the Missouri Valley area).
I-680 into Iowa (Mormon Bridge Crossing) closed due to floodwaters covering roadway.
Missouri River Basin Flooding
Dam Releases projected for Wednesday, July 20:
Fort Peck: 35,000 cfs
Garrison: 120,000 cfs
Oahe: 140,000 cfs
Big Bend: 140,000 cfs
Fort Randall: 156,000 cfs
Gavins Point: 160,000 cfs
Souris (Mouse) River Flooding – Minot, ND Current Situation
As of 1:00 a.m. EDT on July 20, the Souris River at Minot was below flood stage at 1,548.79 feet and is forecast to remain below flood stage for the forecast period.
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) remain open in Minot, ND (2) and Bismarck, ND (1). Two DRCs will open this week; one today in Berthold, ND and one in Sherwood, ND on Wednesday, July 20
.
North Dakota
Three shelters were open with 368 occupants as of midnight, July 18.
Significant National Weather
The heat wave that has been affecting much of the central U.S. continues to produce dangerous levels of heat and humidity. There are excessive heat warnings, heat watches and heat advisories in effect from the Plains to the East Coast. (See www.weather.gov/largemap.php ) with temperatures in many locations exceeding 90 degrees, but feeling like 100-110 degrees or higher with the high humidity factored in.
The large area of high pressure responsible for the excessive heat will expand eastward over the next several days, with high temperatures in the mid to upper-90s reaching the Mid-Atlantic states today, and nearing 100 degrees by Thursday across the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Southeast. Excessive heat is forecast to grip most of the eastern half of the country with the exception of the Northeast and southern Florida through at least the weekend.
West
Monsoonal moisture from the Pacific and Gulf of California is forecast to produce rain and thunderstorms from the Desert Southwest to the Central Plains. Rain continues over the Pacific Northwest. Highs will range from the 80s along the California Coast to the 100s in the deserts of southeastern California and southern Arizona. Red Flag conditions are forecast from central California to Nevada with relative humidity in the lower teens.
Midwest
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms likely to develop through early evening across much of the Region. Severe thunderstorms are possible across Northern Minnesota to the Great Lakes. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats. Highs continue to range from the 90s near the Great Lakes to low 100s in southwestern Kansas and central South Dakota.
South
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast from Texas into the Southeast. Some storms will be capable of producing microbursts and localized damaging rains. The heat continues across the Southern Plains while the Southeast should be near average temperature-wise. Highs will range from over 100 in much of Texas and Oklahoma to 90 in the Southeast.
Northeast
The Region will be generally dry except for rain and thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic associated a frontal system. Heat and humidity from the Midwest continues into the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. Most the region will be in the 90s.
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico
Atlantic
Tropical Storm Bret is moving toward the northeast
near 7 mph and this general heading with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Tropical Storm Bret could become a tropical depression by Thursday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 75 miles from the center.
Area #1 - An elongated area of low pressure located
about 300 miles east of Bermuda continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some development of this system is possible during the next day or so before it reaches cooler waters. This system has a medium chance, 30 percent, of becoming a tropical or subtropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves northeastward at around 20 mph.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Dora is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days with some decrease in forward speed. Hurricane Dora should move nearly parallel to the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph, with higher gusts. Hurricane Dora is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Hurricane Dora could become a major hurricane by Thursday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday evening.
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Fire Activity
Tuesday, July 19, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (189 new fires)
New Large Fires: 3
Large Fires Contained: 5
Uncontained Large Fires: 17
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 4
States affected: NC, GA, TX, FL, OK, UT, NM, WY, and CA.
Wildfires
No significant activity
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Severe Weather Outbreak
Strong thunderstorms impacted the Region yesterday, July 19, downing trees and knocking out power
Power outages were reported across multiple states. Restoration continues with only Michigan (11,200 customers without power) and Illinois (3,100 customers without power) reporting significant outages. Power should be fully restored today.
There are no unmet needs, and no requests for federal assistance. (Region V, NWS)
Missouri River Basin Flooding Summary
The U.S. Coast Guard continues closure of the Missouri River for both commercial and recreational use. At this time, the river remains closed from mile 226.3, near Glasgow, MO, to mile 550 near Gavins Point Dam.
There are potential concerns on 4 Federal and 14 non-Federal levees in the Missouri River Basin. These levees currently have less than two feet of freeboard. River rises due to high rainfall events in the basin could impact these levees.
USACE is constructing a 400 foot berm to protect a wastewater treatment plant in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Major road closures in the Missouri River Basin flood area include:
I-29 in Iowa (Exit 32 to US 136 Interchange in MO).
I-680 in Iowa (3 miles west of Crescent area and Exit 62; I-29; Old Mormon Bridge).
I-29 in Iowa (Council Bluffs) – between exit 54A; G Avenue (Carter Lake) and exit 71; I-680 (2 miles south of the Missouri Valley area).
I-680 into Iowa (Mormon Bridge Crossing) closed due to floodwaters covering roadway.
Missouri River Basin Flooding
Dam Releases projected for Wednesday, July 20:
Fort Peck: 35,000 cfs
Garrison: 120,000 cfs
Oahe: 140,000 cfs
Big Bend: 140,000 cfs
Fort Randall: 156,000 cfs
Gavins Point: 160,000 cfs
Souris (Mouse) River Flooding – Minot, ND Current Situation
As of 1:00 a.m. EDT on July 20, the Souris River at Minot was below flood stage at 1,548.79 feet and is forecast to remain below flood stage for the forecast period.
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) remain open in Minot, ND (2) and Bismarck, ND (1). Two DRCs will open this week; one today in Berthold, ND and one in Sherwood, ND on Wednesday, July 20
.
North Dakota
Three shelters were open with 368 occupants as of midnight, July 18.
Significant National Weather
The heat wave that has been affecting much of the central U.S. continues to produce dangerous levels of heat and humidity. There are excessive heat warnings, heat watches and heat advisories in effect from the Plains to the East Coast. (See www.weather.gov/largemap.php ) with temperatures in many locations exceeding 90 degrees, but feeling like 100-110 degrees or higher with the high humidity factored in.
The large area of high pressure responsible for the excessive heat will expand eastward over the next several days, with high temperatures in the mid to upper-90s reaching the Mid-Atlantic states today, and nearing 100 degrees by Thursday across the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Southeast. Excessive heat is forecast to grip most of the eastern half of the country with the exception of the Northeast and southern Florida through at least the weekend.
West
Monsoonal moisture from the Pacific and Gulf of California is forecast to produce rain and thunderstorms from the Desert Southwest to the Central Plains. Rain continues over the Pacific Northwest. Highs will range from the 80s along the California Coast to the 100s in the deserts of southeastern California and southern Arizona. Red Flag conditions are forecast from central California to Nevada with relative humidity in the lower teens.
Midwest
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms likely to develop through early evening across much of the Region. Severe thunderstorms are possible across Northern Minnesota to the Great Lakes. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats. Highs continue to range from the 90s near the Great Lakes to low 100s in southwestern Kansas and central South Dakota.
South
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast from Texas into the Southeast. Some storms will be capable of producing microbursts and localized damaging rains. The heat continues across the Southern Plains while the Southeast should be near average temperature-wise. Highs will range from over 100 in much of Texas and Oklahoma to 90 in the Southeast.
Northeast
The Region will be generally dry except for rain and thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic associated a frontal system. Heat and humidity from the Midwest continues into the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. Most the region will be in the 90s.
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic / Caribbean / Gulf of Mexico
Atlantic
Tropical Storm Bret is moving toward the northeast
near 7 mph and this general heading with an increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Tropical Storm Bret could become a tropical depression by Thursday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 75 miles from the center.
Area #1 - An elongated area of low pressure located
about 300 miles east of Bermuda continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some development of this system is possible during the next day or so before it reaches cooler waters. This system has a medium chance, 30 percent, of becoming a tropical or subtropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves northeastward at around 20 mph.
Eastern Pacific
Hurricane Dora is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days with some decrease in forward speed. Hurricane Dora should move nearly parallel to the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph, with higher gusts. Hurricane Dora is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Hurricane Dora could become a major hurricane by Thursday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Thursday evening.
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Fire Activity
Tuesday, July 19, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (189 new fires)
New Large Fires: 3
Large Fires Contained: 5
Uncontained Large Fires: 17
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 4
States affected: NC, GA, TX, FL, OK, UT, NM, WY, and CA.
Wildfires
No significant activity
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Wednesday, 20-Jul-2011 08:48:28 EDT
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/2011/nat072011.shtm
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/2011/nat072011.shtm
