Dry Season Wildfire Threat Briefing by the Florida Division of Forestry
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
US Seasonal Drought Outlook
PDF Version of Seasonal Drought Outlook Graphic
Latest Seasonal Assessment - Heavy rain and snow during mid-February raised river levels and boosted snow pack in drought-affected areas of California, but major reservoirs remained well below normal. The seasonal drought outlook indicates improving conditions for northern and central parts of the state due to expected above-normal rain and snow into early March. However, it is highly unlikely that water shortages will end before the dry season sets in, given the long-term deficits that have accumulated over nearly three years. Much more precipitation is needed to get the critical snow water content levels up to normal by April, when snow pack typically peaks. Water storage in mid-February ranged from 44 to 83 percent of normal in the largest reservoirs, suggesting that California has a long way to go to see relief from its hydrologic drought. In the southern Plains, moderate to exceptional drought is forecast to continue in Texas and parts of Oklahoma due to forecast below-normal rainfall during March through May. The same dry forecasts also lead to the continued outlook for drought development in southwestern Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Below-normal rainfall expected for March-May also results in a forecast for drought to persist or expand across the Florida Peninsula and into southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina. Drought affecting parts of Louisiana, Alabama, and North Carolina should also continue. The lingering drought in the southern Appalachians should see improvement toward the northwest in the eastern Tennessee area, but less improvement toward the southeast in the western Carolinas. Areas of drought in Montana and northern Wisconsin are forecast to improve. Lingering drought in parts of Hawaii should also ease.
Forecaster: D. Le Comte
Next Outlook issued: March 5, 2009 at 8:30 AM EDT
Latest Seasonal Assessment - Heavy rain and snow during mid-February raised river levels and boosted snow pack in drought-affected areas of California, but major reservoirs remained well below normal. The seasonal drought outlook indicates improving conditions for northern and central parts of the state due to expected above-normal rain and snow into early March. However, it is highly unlikely that water shortages will end before the dry season sets in, given the long-term deficits that have accumulated over nearly three years. Much more precipitation is needed to get the critical snow water content levels up to normal by April, when snow pack typically peaks. Water storage in mid-February ranged from 44 to 83 percent of normal in the largest reservoirs, suggesting that California has a long way to go to see relief from its hydrologic drought. In the southern Plains, moderate to exceptional drought is forecast to continue in Texas and parts of Oklahoma due to forecast below-normal rainfall during March through May. The same dry forecasts also lead to the continued outlook for drought development in southwestern Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Below-normal rainfall expected for March-May also results in a forecast for drought to persist or expand across the Florida Peninsula and into southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina. Drought affecting parts of Louisiana, Alabama, and North Carolina should also continue. The lingering drought in the southern Appalachians should see improvement toward the northwest in the eastern Tennessee area, but less improvement toward the southeast in the western Carolinas. Areas of drought in Montana and northern Wisconsin are forecast to improve. Lingering drought in parts of Hawaii should also ease.
Forecaster: D. Le Comte
Next Outlook issued: March 5, 2009 at 8:30 AM EDT
StateRecovery.org - A Service of The Council of State Governments for Economic Recovery | State Recovery
StateRecovery.org - A Service of The Council of State Governments for Economic Recovery State Recovery:
"Welcome to STATERECOVERY
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides over $300 billion in potential funding for states and state-related programs. In order to deliver the services their citizens need, while also addressing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, states need to access, utilize, and account for stimulus funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, the sheer enormity and complexity of the legislation makes this a daunting challenge. STATERECOVERY.org is a service of The Council of State Governments (CSG) designed to help states: 1) rapidly decipher potential funding opportunities; and 2) share best practices by tracking how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government are responding to and impacted by this historic legislation"
"Welcome to STATERECOVERY
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides over $300 billion in potential funding for states and state-related programs. In order to deliver the services their citizens need, while also addressing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, states need to access, utilize, and account for stimulus funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, the sheer enormity and complexity of the legislation makes this a daunting challenge. STATERECOVERY.org is a service of The Council of State Governments (CSG) designed to help states: 1) rapidly decipher potential funding opportunities; and 2) share best practices by tracking how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government are responding to and impacted by this historic legislation"
Friday, February 20, 2009
National Governors' Association workforce planning in preparation for pandemic influenz
The National Governors' Association Center for Best Practices has issued a new brief for State Executives on workforce planning in preparation for pandemic influenza. A link to the report is provided below. The recommendations in the brief are a result of regional workshops conducted by NGA in 2007 and 2008.
http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0902PANDEMICWORKFORCEPLAN.PDF
http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0902PANDEMICWORKFORCEPLAN.PDF
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Florida's Wildfire Season 2009
Drought + Weather + Humans = Florida's Spring Wildfire Threat.
Not until summer will lightning overtake humans as the primary cause of wildfire starts.
Key Web Sites for Florida's Emergency Managers to monitor the wildfire threat are
Drought - www.drought.gov
Florida Keetch-Byram Drought Index Map from the Florida Division of Forestry
Storm Prediction Center's Fire Weather Forecast
National Weather Service Fire Weather Page
your local National Weather Service will have the latest fire weather products for their county warning area. www.weather.gov
For more information
www.floridadisaster.org
and
www.firewise.org
Not until summer will lightning overtake humans as the primary cause of wildfire starts.
Key Web Sites for Florida's Emergency Managers to monitor the wildfire threat are
Drought - www.drought.gov
Florida Keetch-Byram Drought Index Map from the Florida Division of Forestry
Storm Prediction Center's Fire Weather Forecast
National Weather Service Fire Weather Page
your local National Weather Service will have the latest fire weather products for their county warning area. www.weather.gov
For more information
www.floridadisaster.org
and
www.firewise.org
Monday, February 16, 2009
2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Animation
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