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National Situation Update: Saturday, December 30, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Blizzard, Storm and Snow Warnings

Blizzard Warnings are in effect into Sunday for eastern Colorado, southwestern Nebraska and northwest Kansas. 

Winter Storm Warnings and Heavy Snow Warnings are in effect from New Mexico, Kansas and Texas to South Dakota.

Winter Storm Watches in effect for portions of the Dakotas and Minnesota. 

Snow Advisories and Snow and Blowing Snow Advisories are also in effect in parts of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. (NOAA)

Winter Storm In Colorado And The Plain States Update

Colorado

A blizzard warning remains in effect until 8:00 am EST Sunday for Crowley, Otero, Las Animas, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, El Paso and Baca counties.  A dangerous blizzard will affect the eastern plains today through early Sunday. Total snow accumulations will range between 15 to 30 inches. 

Blizzard conditions will continue across the plains of southeast Colorado through early Sunday. Visibilities were down to 1/4 of a mile in many locations and winds were gusting to 35 to 50 mph. Reports from the emergency official indicate snow drifts were in excess of 4 to 8 feet across Kiowa and Baca counties. 

Light to moderate snow is expected to redevelop over the Denver urban corridor tonight into Saturday, as a slow moving low pressure system over southern New Mexico moves into the Texas panhandle.  The heaviest snowfall is expected to occur east and south of Denver, along the Palmer Divide. Strong northerly winds will also develop late tonight into Saturday. 

Stronger winds over the northeast plains will also cause near zero visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. North winds from 15 to 30 mph can be expected with some gusts up to 40 mph. By midday Saturday, stronger gusts to 50 mph are possible.  Due to the very slow movement of the storm system, strong winds are expected to continue over the northeastern plains through early Sunday.

Multiple government, road / highway (I-70 in both directions from Airpack to Kansas is closed), school, and businesses remain closed as the state starts to recover from yesterday's storm. However, the eastern plains are beginning to feel the impact of an additional storm as it brings more snow and wind to the region.  

National Guard assets are being refocused to supporting activities on the eastern plains.  Their current missions involve: rescue operations near the city of Campo (22 miles south of Springfield in Baca County) and Prowers County south on Hwy 287 at mile marker 71.

The SEOC has contingency plans to remain open through noon on December 30th.  

25 Shelters are available, with a capacity of 1,300.  282 People are currently being sheltered. 

Region VIII continues to monitor the situation and is maintaining contact with the CO DEM/EOC and we will maintain contact with the state throughout the storm.  There has been no request for Federal Assistance at this time.   (FEMA Region VIII, NWS, CO DEM, NGB)

Texas and New Mexico

Snowstorms hit the Panhandle of Texas and Severe Weather hit most of central and eastern Texas. 
Up to 15 tornadoes were reported across parts of Texas making this the greatest outbreak on record for Texas during the last week of December.

River Forecast Center reports that most of the dams will welcome the water and any flooding from the storms may take 24-48 hours to develop.

TX Shelters: 2 in the Panhandle (Dalehart and Dumas with an unofficial population 53 from the snowstorms hitting the Panhandle of TX and NM.

NM EOC is activated at a Level III for the response and monitoring snowstorms.  No governor's declaration for any NM counties and don't expect any requests for Federal Assistance. (NWS, NOAA, FTW, TXSOC)

Kansas

A major winter storm impacted Kansas on Friday December 29, 2006, with heavy snowfall. Total accumulation by Sunday (December 31) of 15 to 20 inches is expected across far western Kansas.

Strong winds of 25-35 mph, with gusts of 45-50 mph will create white-out conditions in open areas.

Multiple road closures. (I-70 west of Goodland Kansas closed)

State EOC is activated to a Level II status with no extended hours.  ( FEMA Region VII)

National Weather Summary

West   
Heavy snow and winds are occurring across the western Plains. Snow accumulations of 1 to 2 feet are possible from central South Dakota to the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles through the weekend.

Heavy snow and fierce winds will shift into the high Plains of the Colorado/Kansas border and the New Mexico/Texas border areas, causing snow drift.  

Midwest  
Heavy snow will fall across western Kansas, the western half of Nebraska and central South Dakota, North Dakota and far northern Minnesota.

A narrow band of freezing rain and sleet could fall from west-central Kansas to southeast South Dakota to north-central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.

Look for significant rainfall spreading eastward from eastern Nebraska and Kansas to Michigan and the Ohio Valley by Saturday night.

South   
Strong to severe thunderstorms will start in southern Oklahoma and southeast Texas and shifting eastward to along the northern Gulf Coast this weekend.

Extreme eastern Texas and much of Louisiana may be receiving 4 to 6 inches or more of rain through early Sunday.

Parts of western Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle will pick up plenty of wind- driven snow through Saturday.  

Northeast  
A disturbance will bring some light snow across northern sections of New York and New England on Saturday.

Major East Coast cities from Washington to Boston will receive rain and could see amounts exceed 1 inch. (NWS, Media Sources)

Winter Storms Grounds Denver Flights And Spawns Tornadoes For Texas

Denver's second big snowstorm in a week grounded scores of flights at the United States' fifth busiest airport and spawned tornadoes in Texas that killed one person.

The storm stretched across the Rocky Mountains into the western Plains states, with west Texas preparing for up to 10 inches of snow.

The storm system swept tornadoes across Texas, sending at least a dozen people to hospital and causing the president and first lady Laura Bush to be moved to an armored vehicle, where they sat until the weather cleared, deputy White House press secretary Scott Stanzel said.

About 15,000 customers in North, East and Central Texas lost power, said TXU Electric Delivery spokeswoman Carol Peters.

The snow was expected to be spread out over two or three days, making it easier for snowplows to handle. A foot or more of snow was forecast in Denver through Saturday.

Residents of Cheyenne, Wyoming, also braced for another snowstorm. Forecasters said up to a foot of snow was expected.

FEMA Region VI is monitoring the situation.   (Media Resources, NWS, FEMA Region VI)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No activity to report.  (FEMA Region IX, NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

At 4:21 pm EST, December 29, 2006, a 3.5 (minor) earthquake was reported 3 miles NNW of Bar Harbor, Maine.  Depth 1.2 miles.  No injuries or damage reported. No other significant activity to report.

At  2:10am EST, December 30, 2006, a 5.0 (moderate) earthquake was reported 70 miles SE of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands and 80 miles E of Hagatna, Guam. Depth 21.7 miles. No reports or damage or injuries. (FEMA Region IX, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers, media sources)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Washington State: Public Assistance PDAs in 17 Counties are scheduled to begin on January 2, 2007, with additional counties to be added at a later date, if warranted.  (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

No other significant activity to report.  (FEMA Region IX, National Interagency Fire Center, media sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

December 29, 2006, FEMA-3269-EM Illinois an Emergency Declaration was approved for Public Assistance for 26 counties. Incident: Snow disaster.  Incident Period: November 30-December 1, 2006.

December 29, 2006, a Disaster Declaration for FEMA-1672-DR Oregon, was approved for 4 counties for Public Assistance and all counties for Hazard Mitigation. Incident: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides.  Incident Period: November 5-8, 2006.

December 29, 2006, a Disaster Declaration for FEMA-1673-DR Missouri, was approved for 9 counties and 1 city for Public Assistance and all counties for Hazard Mitigation. Incident: Severe Winter Storms.  Incident Period: November 30 - December 2, 2006.  (FEMA HQ)