Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED) Significant National Weather MidwestA front stalled from Nebraska to the Ohio River Valley will bring high humidity and thunderstorm complexes. Some of the thunderstorms could become severe, with damaging wind gusts, hail, and rainfall possibly reaching 3 to 4 inches. Flash flooding is possible in Iowa and Illinois. Missouri will see highs in the 90s with Kansas seeing highs of up to 100 degrees 15 degrees above average.NortheastA cold front moving into New York, Pennsylvania, and western New England will bring thunderstorms, some possibly becoming severe, with damaging wind gusts, hail, and local downpours of 1 to 2 inches possible. New York City to Norfolk, Virginia, will see highs in the low to mid 90s with high humidity.SouthAn upper-level disturbance lingering over the South will bring scattered thunderstorms from southeast Texas to Tennessee and North Carolina. Downpours could reach several inches of rain in a few areas, but the likelihood of these thunderstorms becoming severe will be low. The region will remain very humid with highs in the 90s. Northern Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle could see highs of over 100 degrees.WestIsolated thunderstorms are forecast from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico. The likelihood of these storms becoming severe will be low, but rainfall could locally reach a half inch in eastern Montana and northeast Wyoming. The Southwest will continue to see temperatures 5 to 15 degrees above average with highs in the 90s and low 100s in the lower elevations of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, and reaching 100 to 125 degrees in the Desert Southwest. The Central Valley of California and inland areas of southern California will see highs of over 100 degrees. (NOAA s National Weather Service, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and media sources) June, April-June, and Year-To-Date Global Temperatures are Warmest on Record According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration s (NOAA) National Climactic Data Center (NCDC), the combined global land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest June on record, and was the warmest April-June and year-to-date (January-June) periods on record. NCDC conducts a monthly state of the climate global analysis that provides a snapshot of the climate system around the globe. According to June s report, this was the fourth consecutive month that the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for that month. NCDC s monthly analysis is based on records going back to 1880. For more information please see the full NOAA report at: www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100715_globalstats.html or the full NCDC monthly analysis is available at: www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/?report=global XXI Central American and Caribbean Games: July 17 August 1, 2010 OverviewThe Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will host the XXI Central American and Caribbean (CACG) Games from July 17 August 1, 2010. Opening ceremonies commenced Jul y18 at 5:30 p.m. EDT. Athletic events will proceed as originally scheduled. Approximately 5,000 athletes from 32 countries will be competing in 47 sporting events scheduled in multiple venues. CACG officials expect up to 100,000 visitors for the Games.Temporary Flight Restrictions have been established for the opening and closing CACG ceremonies.Federal/FEMA ResponseFEMA Region II is at Level III (24/7) for the duration of the Games. Caribbean Area Division personnel will staff the Multiagency Coordination Center (MACC) in Puerto Rico. Flooding on the Rio Grande River, Texas Update Situational Update:The situation is currently stable with low-laying areas down-river from Falcon Dam in Major Flood stage. Outflows of Falcon Reservoir are holding steady at 60,000 CFS and will remain at this rate for several days. The Rio Grande River at Rio Grande City remains at Major Flood Stage, but appears to have crested and is slowly receding. The river was at 56.27 feet at 11:15 p.m. EDT on July 18. The Rio Grande River at Laredo has is at Moderate Flood Stage, and at Columbia Bridge at Minor Flood Stage, and continues to recede.The pool at the Falcon reservoir has reached 309.28 feet MSL (above record stage) as of 3:15 a.m. EDT on July 18. Flood operations continue at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs. Releases from the dams are expected to continue for the next several days. Mandatory evacuations continue for the subdivisions in the City of Roma and in the City of Los Ebanos (Hidalgo County) and lower elevation neighborhoods near Falcon Lake. Voluntary evacuations continue in the cities of La Joya, Penitas and La Gruella. Five American Red Cross shelters remain open with 102 occupants. The Hidalgo area has four shelters on standby incase the river rises. The shelters in Laredo were scheduled to be closed on July 18, and the shelters in Rio Bravo are scheduled to be closed July 19. The Texas SOC remains at Level II (Escalated Response Conditions).Federal/FEMA Response:FEMA Region VI RRCC is at Watch/Steady State and monitoring the situation. (FEMA Region VI, DHS/NOC Steady State Incident Report, TX SOC SITREP, media sources) Midwest Flooding - Update Severe thunderstorms are forecast to continue due to a stalled front extending from Nebraska to the Ohio River Valley. Severe thunderstorms that occurred in the Midwest between July 17-18 caused 13 tornadoes, strong winds, and golf ball-sized hail. No significant damages or fatalities were reported and there were only minor injuries. Flood Warnings remain in effect for portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and southeast Nebraska. Excessive Heat Warnings remain in effect for portions of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.(NOAA/North Central River Forecast Center) Kentucky Flooding As the result of severe weather and flooding in Kentucky, the Kentucky EOC is activated at Level I (EOC standard with hot standby mode and the ECI in 24 hour operations). Region IV RRCC is at Watch/Steady State and will continue to monitor this event. A local state of emergency was declared for Pike and Shelby Counties and additional counties may be added. Over 200 homes may be eligible for assistance due to residential flooding. There were two confirmed fatalities. The National Guard is preparing to send assets to Pike County to assist in security missions. The Mountain Water District Water Plant s raw water intake is out of service and may take several days to repair. Several communities will be without water for up to a week, impacting from 3,500 to 4,000 customers. Water is being delivered to Pike County for distribution. Three shelters and a special needs shelter are open, with an unknown number of occupants. No Federal assistance has been requested. Mississippi Canyon 252 Update Federal/State Response:FEMA is providing personnel and equipment support. Florida EOC is at Level I (Full Activation); Louisiana and Alabama EOCs remain at Level III (Partially Activated); the Mississippi EOC is at Level IV (Normal Operations), Texas EOC is at Level II (Escalated Response Conditions).Situational Update:The National Incident Command confirms no oil is flowing from the well. The well integrity remains satisfactory. Pressure has increased to 6,782 pounds per square inch on the three ram capping stack - an increase of 1-2 PSI per hour. Seismic testing results show no anomalies were detected. Two seismic runs and several acoustic passes were scheduled for July 18.Booming and skimming operations continue as weather permits. One in situ burn was conducted on July 18, but no sub-sea or aerial dispersants were used. More than 827 thousand barrels of oil and 1.8653 million cubic feet of gas have been recovered to date.Relief Well Drilling - Drill Rig DIII: Depth is 12,618 feet below sea floor. Drill Rig DII: Depth is 10,743 feet below sea floor.Landfall & Impacts:Coastline impact has increased to approximately 616 miles, impacting AL, FL, LA, MS, and TX. Mobile Incident Command Post (ICP) remains in Port St. Joe, Florida to help speed any potential response efforts along the Florida Panhandle. 83,927 square miles (35%) of Gulf Federal waters are closed to fishing. (NIC Daily Situation Update, DHS NOC SLB, Deepwater Horizon Response and FL Situation Report) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG): FMAG 2828-FM-WA was approved on Jul y18, 2010 for the Cowiche Mills Fire in unincorporated land west of Yakima south of Cowiche and north of Tampico, in Yakima County, Washington. Approximately 7,000 acres have been burned and the fire is zero percent contained. 150 primary residences in the Yakima County subdivisions of Summit View, Summit Extension, Marble, and Tillman (total population 1,500), are threatened. Voluntary evacuations are in place, and 600 residents have evacuated. (FEMA HQ) Tropical Weather Outlook Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico: A tropical wave in the vicinity of the Leeward Islands is moving west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Any development of this disturbance will be slow to occur and there is a low chance (20%) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. This system could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next 48 hours. Another tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands, is moving westward at 10 to 15 mph. Some slow development of this system is possible and there is a low chance (20%) of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.Eastern and Central Pacific:No tropical cyclone activity expected in the next 48 hours.Western Pacific:No systems affecting U.S. interests. (NOAA, NWS, NHC, CPHC JTWC) Earthquake Activity No new activity (FEMA HQ) Preliminary Damage Assessments No new activity (FEMA HQ) Wildfire Update National Preparedness Level: 2National Fire Activity as of Sunday, July 18, 2010: Initial attack activity: Light (142 new fires)New large fires: 3Large fires contained: 1Uncontained large fires: 10States affected: WA, CA, AK, CO, MT and UT (NIFC) Disaster Declaration Activity No new activity (FEMA HQ)
“Fresh” Crater Found in Egypt; Changes Impact Risk?
The well-preserved crater was likely made by an iron meteor that landed whole a find that could change Earth’s impact risk, scientists say. Impact crater - Earth - Egypt - Solar System - Earth Sciences
FYI Damage numbers
FYI to media: We’re trying to wrangle some updated damage statistics in time for evening deadlines (print and 10pm television).
Massive Comet Impact Detected on Neptune
New data hint that a comet crashed into Neptune about 200 years ago, adding to evidence that gassy planets get hit more often than thought. Neptune - Planet - Comet - Solar System - Astronomy
