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National Situation Update: Friday, April 6, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

South
Unusually cold air will produce an April freeze across much of the South. Overnight Freeze warnings, stretching from the Carolinas to northern Oklahoma, will give way to morning lows in the 20s as far south as northern Oklahoma and the Smoky Mountains.

An even colder blast of air is due on Saturday and freeze warnings on Saturday night may dip well into the Florida peninsula.

Showers and thunderstorms across parts of western Texas and the southern Florida Peninsula

Midwest
In the Midwest, very cold air enters from Canada. This April chill will likely last through the weekend over much of the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Highs are expected to stay in the 20s from the eastern Dakotas to the northern Great Lakes. The Central Plains and Ohio Valley will hold in the 30s and 40s.

North to northwest winds from 15-25 mph with higher gusts will produce wind chills around zero in northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Lake effect snow has buried parts of the upper peninsula of Michigan with over three feet of snow and more is falling, continuing across much of Michigan and northern Ohio into the weekend.

Northeast
Very cold air has invaded the Northeast, as well. A stationary area of low pressure aloft in eastern Canada will keep the cold air flowing into the Great Lakes and Northeast through the weekend.

Freeze warnings have been posted for the morning in parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. Lows in the 20s will be widespread this morning in the interior Northeast. Look for lows in the 30s over coastal areas from New Jersey to Virginia.

Lake-effect snow warnings continue in the snow belts of Lakes Ontario and Erie. Additional snowfall, up to a foot, is possible throughout the day, particularly in the Tug Hill Plateau. Lake-effect snow is likely through the Easter weekend.

West
In the West temperatures will be well above average through the weekend; however areas east of the Rockies, like Denver, will remain chilly.

Scattered thunderstorms around the Sierra Nevada Mountains and parts of the Rockies are not expected to produce much rainfall, but the possibility of fires started by lightning is a concern. (NWS, Media Sources)

Northeast spring storms

A spring winter storm in New England, lasting through Thursday, produced heavy wet snow in Northern New England which caused power outages and localized road flooding.

Maine:  The Maine EOC is activated at level II.   106,000 customers are currently without power. South York and Cumberland Counties were hit the hardest,  3 to 4 shelters are open. The State is considering opening 6 - 12 shelters total.  Parts of Maine experienced up to 18 inches of wet snow.  The Governor has declared a state of emergency in order to assist the entry of out of state power crews.

New Hampshire: The New Hampshire EOC is at level II and will remain at that level throughout the night.  At least 53,000 customers are currently without power and Connecticut power crews are on their way to assist.  Current estimate to restore power is up to 48 hours. 

Vermont: 1,500 customers are currently without power. (Region I, State EMAs)

Volcanic Activity

Volcanic haze drifting in from Anatahan Island in the Northern Marianas is affecting Saipan and Tinian Islands with sulfurous odor - reducing visibility and causing unhealthy levels of sulfurous gasses, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Winds are forecast to shift northeast today, allowing the volcanic haze to move out of the area. Concentrations of volcanic gases should be low, but the haze and odor may bother people with respiratory problems. (Region IX)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean: No significant activity to report.

Eastern Pacific: No significant activity to report.

Western Pacific: No significant activity to report. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A minor 3.3 earthquake was reported at 10:48 pm EDT Thursday, 18 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. Depth is 31 miles. No reports of damage.(USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Public Assistance PDAs that began on March 30, 2007 for four counties in Maine have been suspended due to heavy snowfall in the region.  PDAs will begin again on April 9, 2007 (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 1 (lowest of five levels): minimal large fire activity nationally. There is little or no commitment of national fire management resources.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for south central Florida, the panhandle and parts of Georgia. 

National Fire Activity as of 5 April, 2007:

• Initial attack activity: Light (196 new fires)
• New large fires: 1
• Large fires contained: 2
• Uncontained large fires: 2  (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1690-DR-NM, declared April 2, has established an Initial Operating Facility (IOF) in Clovis, New Mexico. The JFO location is scheduled to be operational April 7, 2007. (FEMA HQ)