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National Situation Update: Saturday, April 14, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

A vigorous storm is moving eastward across the southern U.S. sparking dangerous storms from Texas to Mississippi. A severe late winter storm is forecast for the Mid-Atlantic States and New England on Sunday and Monday.

Northeast
A significant winter storm will target the Northeast Saturday night, Sunday and Monday. Heavy rain will overspread the region and could reach 5 inches in parts of New England by Monday. Flooding will be a major concern for the region, especially coastal areas.

Strong southeast winds will precede the storm from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine, possibly causing some coastal flooding. Heavy, wet snow, locally over a foot, will affect the mountains of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York, and New England.

By Monday, the heaviest rain and wind ahead of the storm may be confined to Maine. Behind the storm, strong north-to-northwest winds, gusting over 40 mph at times, will rake the eastern Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic. Snow will linger in the Appalachians and showery rain mixed with snow could approach New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington.

South
Deepening low pressure will race from northeast Texas to the western Carolinas, bringing heavy 1-to-4-inch rains to the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians and triggering severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail and some tornadoes from the lower Mississippi Valley to the coastal Southeast. Gusty, chilly northwest winds behind the storm will attack the southern Plains and then the lower Mississippi Valley.
On Sunday, the storm will strengthen, sweeping northward over the coastal Mid-Atlantic. Strong chilly northwest winds will rush into the Southeast, bringing snow to the Smoky Mountains and keeping Atlanta's daytime temperature in the lower 50s. The severe thunderstorms will exit the eastern Carolinas and push southward through the Florida Peninsula.

Midwest
The intensifying weekend storm is brushing by the Midwest; Missouri and the Ohio Valley will see rain fringed with wet snow. Sunday and Monday, eastern Michigan and the eastern Ohio Valley, will experience lingering wet snow, possibly mixed with rain, and gusty winds. 

West
A new storm will move across the West on Saturday through Monday, bringing showers and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin and Rockies. Meanwhile, the jet stream will dive southward through Southern California and the Southwest, bringing strong winds to the region Sunday and Monday.

Two more Pacific cold fronts will move through the Northwest in the upcoming week; however drought will persist in the Southwest. (NWS)

Severe Storm Reports throughout Midwest and South Central States

The State of Indiana experienced severe weather, tornados and straight-line winds in the north and west central parts of the State Friday afternoon. The State assessment of damage in four counties yields approximately 50 homes with light (shingle disturbance and damage) and less than a hand full of homes (3) with major damage. There were power lines and utility poles downed. The State says there is adequate personal insurance in the areas based upon Local and State assessment. No federal response is requested.

Storms moving through north Texas produced at least one tornado moving northwest to southeast from Ft Worth to Haltom City in Tarrant County. About eight blocks in the Haltom City area were closed due to downed power lines. There were dozens of buildings with substantial roof damage or roofs blown off. Local sources indicated that the American Red Cross opened a shelter in Ft Worth. Five injuries were reported requiring hospitalization. As of 10:30 p.m. ET Friday, power outages in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area were down to 23,000 customers. The Texas SOC is awaiting input from the various affected counties to assess the damage. FEMA Region VI is awaiting their report, and will forward it when received.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Two minor earthquakes (magnitude 5.1 and 4.7) were detected 34 miles southeast from Nikolski, Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands Region. No reports of injuries or damage; no tsunami was generated by either event. (NOAA, 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)

Wildfire Update

National Preparedness Level 1 (lowest on a scale from 1to 5): On Friday wildland fire activity remained light throughout the country with 113 new fires. Two new large fires were reported in Minnesota and New Mexico: (NIFC, media sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:52:00 EDT