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The Weekly Report
Current Situation and Weather Update
Warm with Isolated Showers Across Central and South Florida Near a Weakening Cold Front...Cool and Dry for North Florida Areas...Moderate Rip Current Risk for Northeast, Western-Central and Southwest Florida Beaches Today...National Hurricane Center Monitoring Caribbean Sea Disturbance
Updated 8:00 AM EDT TuesdayA weak cold front over the southern central Florida Peninsula near Lake Okeechobee will slowly move south into the South Florida Peninsula today and then into the Florida Straits on Wednesday as a secondary dry cold front moves towards the Mid-Atlantic Coast. A band of moisture along and north of the front over Florida could spark some isolated showers across portions of Central and South Florida today and tonight, mainly areas south of I-4. Any showers that do develop should be fairly light and brief in nature, with no severe weather. Otherwise, benign weather conditions are expected today with just some passing clouds expected through the day.
Temperatures will be seasonably cool in the low to mid 70s across North Florida today, but high temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s are expected to continue across Central Florida today, with record highs once again possible across South Florida where daytime highs will soar into the upper 80s. Low temperatures tonight are forecast to range from the low 60s to low 70s across Central Florida and northern South Florida areas, with lows in the mid 70s forecast for far southern South Florida areas, including the Florida Keys. Further north, lows are expected to range from the upper 40s to mid 50s across much of North Florida, though coastal Northeast Florida areas may only reach the upper 50s or low 60s given the onshore winds at the coast.
Onshore northeast winds and ocean swells will result in a moderate risk of rip currents at Northeast Florida, West Central and Southwest Florida beaches today, with a slight risk of rip currents expected along the East Central and Southeast Florida coast. Beachgoers should check with local beach patrol before entering the water.
A weak area of low pressure has formed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea just east of Costa Rica. Although associated shower and thunderstorm activity is currently disorganized, atmospheric conditions are favorable for some further development over the next few days as the system remains nearly stationary over the warm Caribbean Sea. According to the National Hurricane Center, this system, located about 1000 miles south of Key West, has a medium (30%-50%) chance of becoming a tropical cyclone over the 48 hours.
Elsewhere, the low pressure center over the northwestern Atlantic is losing energy as it encounters colder ocean waters. Development is no longer expected. Click here for the latest tropical weather outlook from the National Hurricane Center.
| Fire Weather Watch - Inland Escambia (Florida) URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-11-03T19:45:00 Expired At: 2009-11-05T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Coastal Escambia (Florida) URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-11-03T19:45:00 Expired At: 2009-11-05T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Inland Santa Rosa (Florida) URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-11-03T19:45:00 Expired At: 2009-11-05T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Coastal Santa Rosa (Florida) URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-11-03T19:45:00 Expired At: 2009-11-05T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Inland Okaloosa (Florida) URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-11-03T19:45:00 Expired At: 2009-11-05T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/ |
| Fire Weather Watch - Coastal Okaloosa (Florida) URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE Issued At: 2009-11-03T19:45:00 Expired At: 2009-11-05T23:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/ |
| Short Term Forecast - Indian River (Florida) Short Term Forecast Issued At: 2009-11-03T21:59:00 Expired At: 2009-11-04T03:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ |
| Short Term Forecast - St. Lucie (Florida) Short Term Forecast Issued At: 2009-11-03T21:59:00 Expired At: 2009-11-04T03:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ |
| Short Term Forecast - Martin (Florida) Short Term Forecast Issued At: 2009-11-03T21:59:00 Expired At: 2009-11-04T03:00:00 Issuing Weather Forecast Office Homepage: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ |
National Weather Service
Install. Inspect. Protect. Smoke Alarms Save Lives.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has launched an effort to encourage everyone to install and maintain home smoke alarms and, if possible, sprinklers. More than 3,000 people die in home fires each year, and the majority of them have no working smoke alarm. To prevent these deaths, the USFA is sponsoring the nationwide Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign, which emphasizes that “Smoke Alarms Save Lives.”
The USFA is promoting fire safety through a free Campaign Toolkit DVD; featuring English and Spanish educational materials; print, radio and television PSAs; children’s materials, a video demonstration of how quickly a home fire spreads, and on the USFA’s consumer-friendly Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms.
The USFA offers a few helpful tips on smoke alarms and sprinklers:
- Place properly installed and maintained smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
- Interconnected smoke alarms are best, because if one sounds, they all sound.
- The USFA recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
- Test smoke alarms monthly and change alkaline batteries at least once every year, or as instructed by the manufacturer. You can use a date you already know, like your birthday or when you change your clocks as a reminder.
- If possible, install residential fire sprinklers in your home.
- Avoid painting or covering the fire sprinkler, because that will affect the sensitivity to heat.
Rip Current Safety Tips
A rip current is a powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. They are dangerous because they can pull unprepared swimmers away from shore and into deeper waters.
Beachgoers should take the following precautionary and preparedness actions:
- Swim at guarded beaches and heed to the advice of beach patrol.
- If caught in the seaward pull of a rip current do not attempt to move directly toward shore. Instead move sideways across the rip currents until the pull eases.
- If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
- Throw the rip current victim something that floats: a lifejacket, a cooler or inflatable ball.
- Yell instructions on how to escape.
- Never go into the water alone, and if you aren’t a strong swimmer, stick to shallow waters (though shallow waters can also be dangerous for weak swimmers).
- Only swim in areas with a lifeguard or strong swimmers on the beach who can keep a safe eye on you.
To learn more about rip currents, visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.
State Emergency Management Awards Presented At Current Issues In Emergency Management Seminar
Officials from the Florida Division of Emergency Management presented the first ever State Emergency Management Awards last evening at the 2009 Current Issues in Emergency Management (CIEM) seminar for County Emergency Management Directors at the State Logistics Response Center in Orlando.
Recipients were awarded for their innovative practices and achievements in making communities safer, stronger and better prepared to manage emergency or disaster situations. Award winners have exemplified excellence in their community, emergency planning, successful public-private partnerships, collaboration, demonstration of creative and innovative local problem solving and implementing sound programs that can be modeled for use by other communities.
Award recipients include: three Hall of Fame inductees Joe Myers, former director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, David Paulison, former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Wayne Sallade, the current director of Charlotte County Emergency Management.
More State Emergency Management Awards
What Is El Niño? Learn What It Means For Florida
El Niño is a global weather phenomenon that results from changes in the atmosphere and the tropical Pacific Ocean. During times of moderate to strong El Niño, higher water temperatures in the tropical Pacific region often produce a greater threat for severe weather, excessive rainfall and coastal storms in Florida during the fall, winter and spring months. The current El Niño pattern is predicted to peak during the winter months in 2009 -10. This increased severe weather threat highlights the importance of NOAA “All-Hazards” alert radios for families and businesses.
Get the latest El Niño advisory from the Climate Prediction Center online at http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/
ensodisc.html.
For more information on El Niño’s influence on Florida’s weather go to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tae/enso.php.
NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Disability Disaster Information For Floridians
A disaster can strike at any time - sometimes without warning. It is important for every Floridian, especially residents with disabilities and other special needs, to plan ahead for an emergency situation and know what to do in the event of an emergency.
The Division of Emergency Management offers information resources specifically tailored for people with disabilities/special needs and their families to help prepare for emergencies and disasters. The link below provide additional information on preparedness planning, evacuation and shelters, and links to county information on local special needs registration.
Visit Our Disability Disaster Information on Our Web
Governor Crist Urges Children, Students to Get a Plan
~ Visits Miami Elementary school to discuss disaster preparedness ~
Governor Charlie Crist today visited Toussaint L’ouverture Elementary School in Miami to encourage students to continue to remain informed about hurricane preparedness as the historic peak of Atlantic Hurricane Season has begun. Governor Crist also applauded Florida’s Emergency Management Program for receiving a full re-accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), while joined by Florida Emergency Management Interim Director Ruben D. Almaguer, Education Commissioner Dr. Eric Smith and Miami-Dade County School Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho.
“When we educate young Floridians on how to be prepared during a disaster, they can help safety efforts,” said Governor Crist. “As tropical activity is likely to increase during this peak month of hurricane season, there is no better time to review and update disaster plans. We must remind Floridians that storms do not have to be hurricanes to be deadly or destructive. Visit KidsGetAPlan.com.
Children, Students to Get a Plan Release
Florida Emergency Management Launches New Blog And Twitter Feeds
Beginning September 14, Florida residents, visitors, emergency officials and news media outlets can now receive additional information reports from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and State Emergency Response Team via a new blog and Twitter accounts at http://flsertinfo.blogspot.com.
New Blog and Twitter Feeds Release
Information on the H1N1 Swine Flu
Please visit the Department of Health's H1N1 Swine Flu information page for the latest updates.
Florida Emergency Management Launches Daily Reports on YouTube
Beginning today residents and emergency officials can now receive daily situation reports produced by the Florida Division of Emergency Management online via the worldwide web service YouTube, keywords: “Florida SERT” available at http://www.youtube.com/FloridaSERT.
Read Full Article About Florida Emergency Management Videos on YouTube
Updated:
November 2, 2009 17:21
