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National Situation Update: Friday, February 17, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Outlook

West: Cold air will move over Washington and Oregon; Seattle and Portland will see temperatures fall into the low 20s by tonight. The Columbia Gorge will experience gusty winds up to 50 mph. Snow is forecast for much of the West.  In California, snow levels will range from 1000 feet in the northern mountains to between 3500 and 5000 feet in the mountains near Los Angeles and San Diego. Accumulations in the Sierras could be as much as 10 inches. Lesser amounts of snow are forecast to fall across northern and central Nevada, Utah, southern Wyoming, Colorado, and northern New Mexico.

Midwest: A very cold arctic air mass will dominate the midwest today with highs ranging from minus 10F over northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to the 20s in Kansas and the 30s in the Ohio Valley. Temperatures will be as much as 40 degrees below average in the northern plains. Lake-effect snow will fall over parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern Indiana.

South: The cold arctic air mass will move across much of the south. Winter storm watches have already been issued for cities such as Dallas, Little Rock, and Memphis. Rain will fall from central Texas to South Carolina. Upper-level disturbances moving eastward across the region over the weekend will produce snow from Oklahoma to the southern Appalachians and a wintry mix from north Texas to North Carolina.

Northeast: The cold front extending southward from a low pressure system over Quebec will move over the east coast today and extend as far south as Mississippi Gulf Coast. The cold front will produce rain showers changing to snow showers behind the front. Gusty winds to 60 mph are expected in Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. Lake-effect snow is forecast for northwest Pennsylvania and upstate New York. (C/NOAA/NWS and Various Commercial and Media Sources)

Volcano Activity

Alaska's Augustine volcano remains at the Current Level of Concern Color Code: ORANGE (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Hundreds Feared Dead in Philippine Landslide

The Philippine village of Saint Bernard in southern Leyte was buried in a landslide yesterday which left most of its 1,500 residents missing and hundreds feared dead following two weeks of rains.  Philippine Red Cross and military resources have been mobilized to provide assistance.  (News Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

There are no active tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A light earthquake occurred at 12:47 pm EST Thursday, February 16. The magnitude 4.3 event was located in Central California. The center was 151 miles east-southeast of Sacramento, CA at a depth estimated to be 6 miles. No report of injuries or damages at this time. There is no State or local response, and Federal assistance is not anticipated.

An earthquake occurred at 8:22 pm EST Thursday, February 16. The magnitude 4.6 event was located south of the Big Island of Hawaii. The center was 27 miles south-southwest of Hilo at a depth of 20 miles. No report of injuries or damages at this time. No State or local response is reported and no Federal assistance is anticipated. No tsunami was generated according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, FEMA Region IX, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)