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National Situation Update: Sunday, February 11, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

Northeast
High pressure will keep the weather across much of the eastern half of the nation subdued, with only light snow and cold temperatures as the predominate story. The afternoon high temperatures across all of the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic will remain 5 to 10 degrees below average.

The almost week-long lake-effect event has produced snow totals to a whopping 110 inches in Parish, N.Y. The snow band producing between 1 and 5 inches per hour moved south Saturday but will shift back northward tonight in response to the next approaching arctic front. Additional 1-to-over-2-foot accumulations are possible.

South
The South and Southeast will enjoy a short warm up early this week as southerly winds bring warmer, moister air from the Gulf of Mexico into the region. Afternoon highs will peak in the 40s from Virginia to Arkansas, the 50s from the Carolinas to Oklahoma, and the 60s & 70s from Florida to Texas.

The South will be dry except for a few showers in southern Texas.

A vigorous storm system taking shape over the Midwest will cause thunderstorms to explode from eastern Texas to Mississippi by Monday. There appears some likelihood that severe thunderstorms could impact parts of the South.

Midwest
Cold conditions are forecast to be once again reinforced across the Great Plains and Midwest early in the week as a developing storm system starts to take shape in eastern Colorado.

Light snow is forecast to develop across Nebraska, spreading east into northern Illinois and northern Indiana by evening. Only light accumulations are expected. A light wintry mix is also possible across the portions of northern Kansas and northern Missouri.

Significant snow, sleet, and freezing rain will develop and spread across the central Plains, mid-Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley (in the colder air north of the system) later today and Monday, and spreading into the Mid-Atlantic states by Tuesday.

West
The West is forecast to remain in an active weather pattern into the middle of next week. One system will move into Southern California today, bringing showers to Los Angeles and San Diego with snow above 6,000 feet.

Snow levels will fall to around 5,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada, where over a foot of additional snow is forecast by tonight.

The Wasatch in Utah are forecast to pick up generally as much as 12 inches of new snow above 6,000 feet with rain in Salt Lake City.

Snow levels in the Pacific Northwest will run around 4,000 feet.  (NWS, Media Sources)

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

No significant activity. National preparedness level is 1 (lowest on a 1-5 scale). (National Interagency Fire Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)