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National Situation Update: Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

Northeast:  Light snow will move away from central and southern New England very early today, leaving only snow showers and flurries across the interior Northeast for the remainder of the day.

Heavier accumulations are expected to be just east of Lake Ontario, and a few locations immediately east of Lake Erie.

Midwest:  Areas of light snow and flurries may dust the Plains, Midwest states west of the Mississippi River and upper Great Lakes, but accumulations won't amount to much.
The exception may be in south-central and southeast Kansas where an inch or two could fall.

South:  A high-pressure cell moving eastward through the Southeast will keep that part of the country cool and dry.  Farther west, showers will be spotty over the western Gulf Coast and much of Texas.  In the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, a mix of rain and snow showers is likely.

West:  Snow showers will dot the West from Montana southward to the higher elevations of Arizona and New Mexico today.  Significant accumulations are expected only in the Colorado Rockies and higher elevations of northern New Mexico and east-central Arizona.

Scattered showers may strike parts of Southern California, southern Arizona and southern New Mexico.
In the Pacific Northwest, strong, gusty east winds from the Columbia River Gorge will blow through Portland, OR, especially early in the day.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Mariana Islands:  The US Geological Survey reported that a 6.3 magnitude (strong) earthquake occurred on Tuesday afternoon, January 30, 2007 at 4:38 pm EST.  The epicenter was located 40 miles North of Farallon de Pajaros, N. Mariana Islands.  The quake occurred at a depth of 31 miles. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reports that no Tsunami was generated.

There are no reports of damage or injuries.  No Federal or FEMA involvement is anticipated at this time.  FEMA Region IX will continue to monitor the situation. 

New Zealand:  A strong (6.5 magnitude) earthquake struck at a depth of 33 miles about 650 miles northeast of Auckland, New Zealand. 

There was no tsunami generated as a result of the quake and there were no reports of 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)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)