The region will be generally cool and dry under a ridge of high pressure. A strong upper level high pressure system developing over Southern California will bring a prolonged period of hot weather to the inland areas of southwestern California. The warmest temperatures of this heat wave are generally expected on Thursday and Friday, when triple digit heat will be common across inland areas. Warmer than normal weather conditions are expected to linger into weekend.Midwest

A cold front extends from the Great Lakes to the Texas Panhandle and will produce showers, thunderstorms, and severe thunderstorms (hail, gusty winds, localized flooding and possible tornados) across the Upper Plains, Great Lakes, and Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.Northeast

The system moving out of the Midwest will bring precipitation to western Pennsylvania, New York, and New England later today but most of the region will be precipitation free. Some areas of ... Read more

A cold front extends from the Great Lakes to the Texas Panhandle and will produce showers, thunderstorms, and severe thunderstorms (hail, gusty winds, localized flooding and possible tornados) across the Upper Plains, Great Lakes, and Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.Northeast

The system moving out of the Midwest will bring precipitation to western Pennsylvania, New York, and New England later today but most of the region will be precipitation free. Some areas of the Mid-Atlantic coast will begin to feel the effects of Hurricane Earl. South

Under high pressure, the region will be partly cloudy except for showers in Texas and Oklahoma.(NOAA and media sources)                 

Under high pressure, the region will be partly cloudy except for showers in Texas and Oklahoma.(NOAA and media sources)                 

The system moving out of the Midwest will bring precipitation to western Pennsylvania, New York, and New England later today but most of the region will be precipitation free. Some areas of the Mid-Atlantic coast will begin to feel the effects of Hurricane Earl. South:

Under high pressure, the region will be partly cloudy except for showers in Texas and Oklahoma.(NOAA and media sources)                 

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico:

Hurricane Earl is a large, intense Category 4 storm located 355 miles south of Cape Hatteras, NC moving northwest at 18 mph. It has maximum sustained winds of 135 mph with hurricane force winds extending out 90 miles from the center and tropical storm winds extending 230 miles from the center.Earl will pass near the Outer Banks of North Carolina tonight as a major hurricane, with winds of 111 mph or above. Tropical storm force winds, winds of 39 mph and above, are forecast to begin to reach from Virginia to New Jersey by late Thursday night and early Friday morning.Storm surge levels of three to five feet above ground level are expected within the hurricane warning area and lower Chesapeake Bay. In the tropical storm warning areas, storm surges will be one to three feet above ground level and the coastal areas will also see large and battering waves.The eastern part of North Carolina including the Outer Banks wi... Read more

National Preparedness Level: 2

National Fire Activity as of Wednesday, September 1, 2010: 

Initial attack activity: light (85 new fires), new large fires: 3, large fires contained: 5

Uncontained large fires: 15, U.S. States affected: ID, OR, WA, MT, HI, CA, WY, OK, & AR (NIFC)

TexasFEMA-1931-DR-TX is amended effective September 1, 2010.  Amendment No 4 adds Calhoun County for Public Assistance.North Carolina

On September 1, 2010, the President signed Emergency Declaration EM-3314 for the State of North Carolina due to the potential impact of Hurricane Earl beginning September 1, 2010 and continuing.  The declaration approves Public Assistance for eighteen counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  The FCO is Michael Bolch of the National FCO Program.Illinois

Governor of Illinois requests to amend the incident period for FEMA-1935-DR-IL to include eligible damages events beginning on July 19, 2010, and ending August 7, 2010.  The incident period for this declaration is currently July 22 to August 7, 2010.  Additionally, the Governor is requesting the Public Assistance program be authorized under FEMA-1935-DR.  (HQ FEMA)