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National Situation Update: Sunday, December 31, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West

In parts of eastern Colorado and northern New Mexico a blizzard has brought snowfall from 1 to 4 feet, by wind gusts from 20 to 50 mph, have lead to whiteout conditions, at times.

Incredibly, drifts as high as 15-18 feet, over 1 story tall, were observed in the small town of Sheridan Lake, Colo. near the Kansas state line.

Albuquerque received over 15" of snow, and Santa Fe, received 25" of snow!

Extended stretches of I-25, I-40, and I-70 were shutdown, and numerous other U.S. and state roads were closed.

The West Coast and intermountain West will see a minor upper-level disturbance with a few snow showers from the Oregon Cascades, northern Sierra and into Montana and Idaho today.

Midwest

Heavy snow and ice will continue over parts of the Plains states today. Receiving from 1 to 2 feet of snow, with wind gusts from 30 to 50 mph, have created whiteout conditions from the Texas Panhandle into Nebraska.

A large segment of I-70 was shutdown west of Salina, Kan. into Colorado due to the adverse conditions.

Snow turned to freezing rain Saturday in western Kansas and central Nebraska. Driven by strong winds, the sheer weight of all the accumulated snow and ice toppled numerous power lines, trees, and power poles from the panhandles into Nebraska.

Up to 1" of ice accumulation left streets impassable due to fallen tree branches in Dodge City, Kan., heavy snow and some icing had propagated to the northeast into the Dakotas. Up to a foot of snow had fallen in parts of south-central North Dakota.

Sunday, the area of snow that was affecting the High Plains, will fast track into western and northern Minnesota, the far eastern Dakotas, eastern Nebraska and northwest Iowa.

South

Two tornados were reported in Louisiana earlier Saturday; the threat for additional severe weather has substantially waned and will remain low as the cold front moves across the Deep South and into the Southeast.

Heavy flooding rain has become the main threat, with over 4" of flooding near Lake Charles and Baton Rouge.

Sunday, the cold front will continue its slow eastward movement into the Southeast, with rain from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast.

A few isolated severe thunderstorms are possible in southeast Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and southwest Georgia.

Northeast

From 1 to 6" of snow had fallen over parts of New England, Upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

Rain will move into the region beginning Sunday evening, and slowly move eastward. (NWS, Media Sources)

Winter Storm Updates In Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas

Colorado

Denver International Airport has resumed regular scheduling this week’s winter storm

A blizzard warning remains in effect until 8 am EST Sunday for Crowley, Otero, eastern Las Animas, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, El Paso and Baca counties. A dangerous blizzard will affect the eastern plains through early Sunday.

Total snow accumulations will range between 15 to 30 inches.

Reports from emergency officials indicate snow drifts were in excess of 4 to 8 feet across Kiowa and Baca counties.

Several interstate, state, and county roads were closed due to the severe weather conditions.

Two area commands have been established; one in the South region and one in the Southeast region.

Reconnaissance flights are being staged for flights scheduled to commence on Sunday. Their mission will be to find stranded occupied vehicles and large herds of animals

Highway and Road Closures and Restrictions: CO 59 Holly – Lycan, CO 86 Franktown – Limon, US 160 Trinidad – Kansas State border, US 385 Burlington – Cheyenne Wells, US 40 Kit Carson – Kansas State border, US 50 La Junta – Kansas State border and US 94 Colorado Springs – US 287.

Twenty-five shelters are open with a current occupancy of 282, with a capacity of approximately 1,300.

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, Media sources)

New Mexico and Texas

New Mexico's Governor declared a state of disaster due to the heavy snow on Saturday.

The State's Emergency Operations Center was activated and is monitoring damage and coordinating state, local and volunteer agencies

The latest storm to hit New Mexico shut down roads throughout the state and canceled numerous airline flights.

An upper level disturbance over southeast New Mexico will continue its slow move eastward into the Texas Panhandle over the Red River Valley, bringing additional moderate to heavy snowfall over northeast New Mexico.

The Blizzard Warning for Dallam and Hartley Counties and a Winter Storm Warning for the remainder of the Panhandle north of a line from Hereford to Clarendon issued by the National Weather Service Amarillo continue until 8:00 a.m. EST Sunday.

Mass Care organizations are establishing shelters as needed and have distributed shelter supplies to meet shelter needs. Shelters have been established in Texline and Dalhart to shelter stranded motorists. Another shelter is being opened in Dumas, Moore County where local hotel accommodation has reached capacity.

The Texas Military Forces (TMF) has deployed 9 high profile vehicles and 9 personnel to the Panhandle region to provide transportation assistance in the response to stranded motorists.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) continues to deploy vehicles and personnel as necessary to maintain roadway conditions.

Road closures: US87, SH287, US 385

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) is working with utility providers to provide effective response to impacted areas.

Excel Energy has power outages down to 2100 (including 100 in Amarillo). This is down from 3350 (800 in Amarillo).

The Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) is monitoring roadway and travel conditions and is deploying assets as needed to impacted areas.

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)

Storm closes roads, leaves thousands powerless in Kansas

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declared a disaster emergency December 30, 2006 to help 39 counties in northwest and southwest Kansas.

A slow-moving winter storm with a mixture of snow and ice has moved across parts of western Kansas, stranding travelers, leaving thousands without power. Ice and strong winds knocked out power to at least 14,000 people.

A reported 24 inches of snow had fallen as of 6 p.m. with another 3 to 4 inches of was expected before the storm moves east early Sunday.

Wind gusts of up to 35 mph contributed to snow drifts of up to 15 feet deep, which hampered efforts to clear roads and restore power.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. spokesman said a combination of ice and strong winds had downed an estimated 3,000 poles and numerous high-voltage transmission lines. The utility provides electricity to six rural electric cooperatives in western Kansas, and declined to estimate how many of the 120,000 people its members serve were without power.

About 7,000 of Aquila Inc 70,000 electric customers in Kansas, were without power. The hardest-hit area was Dodge City, where about 4,200 of the utility's customers were without power.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 of Midwest Energy Inc. utility's customers were without power. The cooperative serves 45,000 electric customers in parts of 41 counties in central and northwest Kansas.

Several communities, including Lakin and Deerfield, have set up emergency shelters. No shelter population numbers available. (FOC,FEMA Region VII)

Former President Ford’s State Funeral Continues In Washington D.C.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Ford's body continues to lie in state. Rotunda opens to the public.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)