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National Situation Update: Sunday, January 7, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South
Rain will spread from the central Gulf Coast into the Southeast. Some bands of locally heavy rain are  possible from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the southern Appalachians, of 1-3" locally. Thunderstorms are expected by afternoon from southeast Louisiana to south Georgia. Sunday evening, thunderstorms will develop northward into the eastern Carolinas, and a few of these could turn severe.

West
The storm in the Pacific Northwest will be a very windy one over the high country and adjacent lee slopes of the Cascades and northern Rockies.  Winter storm warnings are in effect from Washington State to Montana.  Heavy, wind-driven snow for the northern Rockies, including the Tetons and Bitterroots.  A frost advisory continues in the San Joaquin Valley tonight.  Lows in the 30s and 40s can be expected in the L.A. Basin. A few 30s can also be expected in the Bay Area.

Northeast
Highs in the low 50s from New York City into northern Virginia. Forties will be in the interior Northeast, with the exception of northern New England, where 30s will be stubborn.  Precipitation will spread into the Middle Atlantic States Sunday night, as a low pressure system tracks from the south.
Sunday night into Monday, rain should change over to wet snow in the Appalachians and eastern Great Lakes. A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow in parts of Upstate New York and far northern New England.

Midwest
A frontal system will spread light snow through parts of North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Snow amounts in these areas will generally be an inch or two.
Brisk northwest winds will buffet the Plains. Highs should hold in the 20s in the northern Plains, and 30s or 40s in the central Plains, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi Valleys. These readings are still above average for the first weekend of January.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Colorado Avalanche

An avalanche reportedly knocked two cars off a mountain pass west of Denver, CO on a main highway to one of the state's largest ski areas.  Media reports indicated that eight people were rescued from the buried vehicles and were taken to area hospitals.  (FEMA Region VIII, media, NOAA)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

Light fire activity was reported for the week ending January 5, 2007. A total of 34 new fires were reported throughout the country. No new large fires were reported or contained. Fire potential is expected to increase in southern California through Monday due to Santa Ana winds along with warmer and drier weather. These winds should diminish late Monday. Tuesday is expected to be cooler with rain predicted for Thursday.  (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)