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National Situation Update: Saturday, January 27, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Canadian Clipper to Dominate Weather in the East and Midwest

Midwest:
During the weekend, the Midwest will deal with a storm system pushing southward from Canada that will cause colder temperatures (20s-30s) in most of the region.

Lake Effect snowfall (1-3 inches) is expected in the area from Michigan to western Pennsylvania. 

Northeast:
Light snow and freezing rain is possible on Saturday in the area from western Pennsylvania to New England.

Light snow and rain is expected on Sunday in the Mid-Atlantic area from West Virginia to the coastal regions of Delaware and New Jersey.

Most of the Northeast will experience warmer temperatures this weekend with highs in the 20s-30s in New England and 40s-50s in the Mid-Atlantic area.

South:
A fast moving storm system is expected to drop up to an inch of rain over the South on Saturday in the area from Texas to the southeast Atlantic Coast.

Sunday will bring cooler temperatures (30s-40s) over a large portion of the South from the southern Plains to the southern Appalachians.

West:
Large areas of fog are forecast for the valleys in Oregon, Washington, and Salt Lake City, Utah, over the weekend.

Light rainfall is expected in the coastal areas of central and northern California.

Light snow (1-3 inches) is forecast for parts of Wyoming, Colorado, and northeast New Mexico. (NWS, Media Sources)

FEMA Regional Activity

Region I
Significant wind chills ranging between zero and minus 30 degrees throughout New England through Saturday.

A Cold Weather Warning has been issued for all of New England. ISO-New England, (Independent Service Operator), the independent not-for-profit energy supply company in New England, conducted a conference call Thursday with State Energy offices and Emergency Management offices. It appears there will be enough electric energy supply to meet expected demands.

Vermont - state officials indicate a potential ice jam is developing in the Winooski River upstream of Montpelier, Vermont. They have requested technical assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers. 

Region II
The Caribbean Division (CD) continues to monitor the situation related to the Palo Seco Power Generating Plant; a contingency plan is being developed and staffed at the R&R Division office.

Very cold temperatures are forecast for New York and New Jersey on Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday.

Region III
Washington DC: The United for Peace and Justice Organization, and others, are planning an anti-war demonstration and march on Saturday, January 27th at 1:00 pm. Rally begins at 11:00am.  DCEMA is not activating for this weekends protest, but will have additional staff on hand to assist with monitoring the event.

Region IV
North Carolina: A flood warning continues for the Roanoke River near Williamston (Martin County) until further notice. At 7:00 pm EST Friday, the stage was 11.4 feet with flood stage set at 10 feet. At 11 feet, low land flooding adjacent to the river can be expected.

South Carolina: A flood warning continues for the lower Santee River near Jamestown until further notice. At 7:00 pm EST Friday, moderate flooding is occurring and will continue through the weekend.

Region V
Late tonight and into the weekend another Canadian clipper brings back low temperatures and drizzle/snow across the area, although no significant precipitation is expected.

The Illinois PDA's data report should be completed by Saturday, January 27th. Illinois will then decide whether or not to submit a request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

Region VI
The Initial Operating Facility (IOF) is operational for FEMA 3272-EM-OK in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma State Emergency Management Department operating at full staffing levels.

Region VII
Joint PDAs for Public Assistance in support of DR-1676 ongoing in Missouri. 

Joint PDAs for Individual Assistance for 38 counties and the City of St. Louis to begin Monday, Jan. 29, 2007.

Power continues to be restored in Missouri, however Missouri State agencies have returned to normal operations.

Severe weather is not anticipated this weekend for states within Region VII.

Region VIII
The RRCC is not activated, but Region Operations staff continues to monitor the current situation in all Region VIII states.

Region Operations is monitoring the potential hazardous weather conditions that may develop in ND, SD, WY, CO and eastern UT.

Region IX
A Snow Advisory has been posted for Southwest Arizona.  A High Surf Advisory is posted for Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands. 
 
The State of California, in relation to the Agricultural Freeze, has made a request to SBA to declare 20 counties and to USDA to declare 5 counties.  The SBA announced that they have granted the request for 40 counties.  The state has also requested USDA to declare 13 additional counties.

Region X
Flood watch in effect, Lower Kenai River through Saturday morning.  Water levels are expected to crest within the next few days. Rise in water levels could cause ice cover to break up and form ice jams.  An ice jam can cause rapid rises upstream of the jam.

Idaho: No responses or activations.  Minor ice jam flooding in Fremont Co. (NE Idaho) on Henrys Fork River. No evacuations.

Oregon: - No responses or activations.  Joint PDA for December windstorms is complete. 

Washington: - No responses or activations. PDA for January 6-7 windstorms set for January 29-31 in King, Snohomish, Jefferson, Chelan, Grant, Douglas, and Island Counties.  (FEMA Regional Offices)

Tropical Weather Outlook

At 4:00 pm EST January 26, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued the final warning for Tropical Cyclone (TC) 09P (Arthur), located approximately 390 miles south of Papeete, Tahiti that was tracking southeastward at 22 mph.

Maximum sustained winds were 63 mph with gusts to 80 mph.

The system is expected to rapidly weaken as it becomes extra tropical and to dissipate as a significant tropical cyclone over water during the next 12 hours.

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

Earthquake Activity

A light, magnitude 4.9, earthquake occurred at 5:12 pm EST, January 26, 60 miles south-southwest of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands at a depth of 81 miles. 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

Illinois - PA PDAs should be completed by Saturday, January 27.

Missouri - Joint PDAs for IA for 38 counties and the City of St. Louis are scheduled to begin Monday, January 29.

Oregon - Joint PDA for December windstorms has been completed.

Washington - PDA for January 6-7, 2007 windstorms are scheduled for January 29-31, 2007 in King, Snohomish, Jefferson, Chelan, Grant, Douglas, and Island Counties  (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)