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National Situation Update: Friday, November 23, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

West:
An upper-level storm will produce snow over Colorado and New Mexico.  The mountains, from the San Juan to the Sangre de Cristo could receive a foot of snow while in the High Plains, amounts will range from two to six inches.  High temperatures will range from the 20s in the Rockies to the low 70s in the Desert Southwest.  Santa Ana conditions are forecast for Southern California, as discussed below. 

Midwest:
Light snow will move eastward into Kansas as the western storm moves into the Southwest.  A low along the Canadian border will produce snow showers in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.  High temperatures will range from the 30s along the Canadian border to the 60's in Texas.

South:
A cold front that produced precipitation along the East Coast on November 22, 2007, will stall over Central Florida and across the Gulf of Mexico to Brownsville, TX, producing showers and thunderstorms.  A low pressure system moving out of the Southwest will bring snow to the southern High Plains from late today into early Sunday, producing three to six inches of snow in some locations.
High temperatures will be below average over much of the region as the cold air settles in, ranging from the 30s in West Texas to low 60s in the Carolinas and Georgia and the low 80s on the Florida Peninsula.

Northeast:
The Northwest flow behind the low off the Canadian Maritimes will bring snow showers to Upstate New York and northern New England through the weekend.  Behind yesterday's cold front high temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees below average ranging from 20s in Maine to 40s in the Virginias. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Media Sources)

Red Flag Warning for Possible Santa Ana Event

The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued a Red Flag Warning for areas in Southern California that will remain in effect from midnight Friday until 6:00 p.m. PST Saturday.   A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected.  A combination of strong winds and low relative humidity will bring the potential for rapid fire growth.  Red Flag warnings were issued due to strong gusty winds near passes and canyons and low relative humidity for the following periods:

• From noon Friday to 6 p.m. PST Saturday for the Santa Ana mountains and foothills, the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains and the Inland Empire: locally gusty northeast winds to 25 mph are expected
  
• From midnight Friday night to 6 p.mm PST Saturday for the San Diego county mountains and inland valleys and the Orange County coastal plains: northeast winds 15 to 25 mph will continue. The strongest winds will occur near and below the passes and canyons late Friday night through Saturday morning, with local gusts 40 to 50 mph. 

Update on OJO Peak Fire Incident, Albuquerque, NM

Firefighters hope the weather will continue to lend a helping hand as they battle the 7,500-acre OJO Peak Fire that has charred several structures in the Manzano Mountains.  Crews were helped on Thursday, November 22, 2007, by frigid temperatures and higher humidity that resulted from a cold front making its way across New Mexico.  The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the area.  Forecasters are expecting a few inches of snow overnight and throughout tomorrow.  The Ojo Peak Fire firefighting effort has been turned over to a Southwest Incident Management Type I Team, relieving employees at the Mountainair Ranger District who have been working long hours since the fire was sparked Monday.  A Fire Management Assistance Grant, FEMA-2741-FM-NM, was approved on November 21, 2007.  (Media Sources, FEMA HQ)

Incident Report - Oil Spill - Long Beach, NY

On November 22, 207, the US Coast Guard (USCG) began investigating an oil spill of unknown origin in the vicinity of Jones Beach Station, New York (NY).  Initial reports indicated that the spill was concentrated along the shoreline, an area of approximately 2 to 3 nautical miles.  Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service, NY has been engaged.  USCG Station Jones Beach has two (2) assets on scene, their 25-foot and 41-foot response boats.  An approximate 1,500-yard area is impacted with thick amounts of oil, spread evenly.  Oil samples are being taken from suspect vessels. (NICC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA Region VI)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Eastern and Central Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings affecting U.S. interests.

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)