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National Situation Update: Saturday, March 25, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Cold Weather Continues in Much of the U.S. Through the Weekend

South: The Southeast will continue to record very low temperatures this weekend with forecast highs of 37 in Jacksonville, 46 in Vero Beach, and 54 in Miami on Saturday morning. On Friday morning several records were broken in Oklahoma and Texas where highs were in the 20s-30s. The Southeast will start to warm up during the weekend so that the Texas and Oklahoma areas will see more seasonal highs in the 60s-70s by Sunday. There will be a chance of some scattered thunderstorms in the Southern Plains by Monday.  

Northeast: Temperatures will continue to be unseasonably cold in the Northeast during the weekend. Some light rain and snow are forecast for parts of New York and Pennsylvania. West Virginia may see up to 6 inches of snow in some areas. The Cape Cod area, Long Island, and the coastal areas of New Jersey can expect some cold and windy weather through Sunday as a storm system moves northward along the coast.

Midwest: The Canadian storm system over the Midwest will continue to bring cold temperatures on Saturday and Sunday. The Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions will see cool, cloudy, and rainy weather on Saturday. The Plains states will start to see warmer temperatures by Sunday, when most areas will see highs in the 50s-60s.

West: Southern California and the Southwest desert area will see some very seasonal 80 degree weather this weekend. Further north, in Northern California, Oregon, and Idaho, a new storm system will bring several inches of new snow to mountainous areas.  The Hawaiian Islands will see the potential for heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.  (National Weather Service (NWS) media sources)

Tornado in Hawaii

At approximately 9:35 pm HST Thursday (1:35 am EST Friday), a tornado touched down on the island of Lanai, Maui County, Hawaii, at Kaumalapau Harbor on the east coast of Lanai.  Maui County received a report at 11:03 pm HST of tornado damage at the harbor.  The harbor was closed before midnight HST.

Damage was reported to the Lanai Oil Company Building and a 10 foot by 10 foot trailer adjacent to it.  Kaumalapau Harbor was closed until a full damage assessment can be made. Kaumalapau is the main supply harbor for the island of Lanai.

There were no deaths or injuries reported. 

The NWS Weather Forecast Office in Honolulu has had a Flash Flood Watch in effect for the Islands since early Monday March 21.  The Watch is now in effect through Saturday Night. (NOAA, National Weather Service)

Tropical Activity

There are no tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans that affect the U.S. or U.S. interests. (National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of California, approximately 120 miles northwest of Eureka, California on Friday March 24 at 10:16 pm EST. There were no reports of injuries or damages.  (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

State of Missouri (FEMA-DR-1631-MO) Amendment Number 1 signed on March 24, 2006 amends the major disaster declaration to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the catastrophe declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of March 16, 2006: 

The counties of Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cooper, Greene, Henry, Iron,  Lawrence, Lincoln, Mississippi, Morgan, New Madrid, Newton, Phelps, Putnam, Scott, St.  Clair, Taney, Vernon, Webster, and Wright for Individual Assistance.

 The counties of Bates, Howard, Jefferson, and Montgomery for Individual Assistance  (already designated for debris removal and emergency protective measures [Categories A  and B] under the Public Assistance program.   (FEMA HQ)