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National Situation Update: Thursday, January 25, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

Northeast:  Icy winds will move into the Northeast bearing some of the coldest weather the region has experienced in a year or two. 

Snow showers and flurries will be widespread, missing portions of eastern New England, much of Virginia, eastern Maryland and Delaware.

The heaviest snow (lake-effect squalls perhaps accompanied by thunder and lightning) will strike northwest Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio south of Lake Erie. A foot or two could accumulate in some spots.  Lake-effect snow bands will build up dramatically, south of Lake Ontario in western New York.

Midwest:  Blustery winds, snow showers and flurries will exist from the Great Lakes southward through the upper Ohio Valley today.  The heaviest lake-effect snow will saturate portions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, northwest lower Michigan, eastern Michigan south of Lake Huron and northeast Ohio.
The most concentrated squalls are expected to dump a foot or two of fresh snow on northeast Ohio, generally east of Cleveland.

South:  Although snow showers may produce some accumulations in the higher reaches of the southern Appalachians tomorrow, the remainder of the South, with the exception of Florida, will be dry.  The southern half of the Florida Peninsula will see a few showers tomorrow.

West:  Hazy conditions will prevail in the Great Basin underneath a stagnant high pressure area and freezing fog may provide a frosty morning to parts of western Washington and western Oregon.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Tropical Cyclone (TC) 09p (Arthur), located approximately 590 nm east of Pago Pago, American Samoa, has tracked east-southeastward at 27 mph over the past six hours.  Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph with gusts to 92 mph.

The system will steadily weaken as it becomes extratropical, due to the influence of colder midlatitude air and increasing vertical wind shear.

Arthur does not pose a threat to US Territories or posessions.( NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

At 6:30 am EST, an earthquake measuring 4.1 at a depth of 3.8 miles struck about 46 miles south of Tonopah, NV.  There were no reports of damage or injuries.

At 8:42 am EST, an earthquake measuring 4.4 at a depth of 12.3 miles struck offshore from northern California, about 16 miles west of Petrolia.  There were no reports of damage or injuries, and no tsunami was generated as a result of the quake.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)