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National Situation Update: Thursday, December 27, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
A Pacific front will produce heavy snow in the Cascades and Olympic Mountains Thursday December 27, 2007 while rain soaks the lower elevations of Washington, Oregon and California.
Eastern Colorado and the adjacent Rockies will also receive significant snow on Thursday December 27, 2007. Approximately 3 to 6 inches of snow should fall in the Denver area.
Strong northerly winds will buffet Southern California keeping temperatures there on the chilly side.

Northeast
Rain and snow showers will impact much of the northeastern U.S. tomorrow with the exception of Virginia and Delaware which should remain dry.
Eastern New York state and New England, occasional snow or snow showers will occur, although parts of New England could see a wintry mix or rain change to snow during the afternoon.
In New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and West Virginia, either rain or snow showers will fall, with snow more likely in the higher elevations.

Midwest
A few snow showers, mostly during the morning and early afternoon, will move through Michigan, Indiana and Ohio Thursday December 27, 2007, while a mix of rain and snow showers develops around eastern Ohio and Kentucky.
To the west, on the High Plains of Nebraska and Kansas, a steady snow is expected to develop Thursday December 27, 2007 as a storm develops over the Texas Panhandle. (National Weather Service)

High Wind Warning

High Wind Warning is in effect from 6:00 p.m. EST, December 26, 2007 through 6:00 p.m. EST, December 27, 2007, for the following:

Santa Barbara County south coast
Santa Barbara County Mountains
Los Angeles County Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area (excluding the Santa Monica Range)

A weak front moving down the California coast will create gusty wind conditions for the above-listed areas.

Gusts are likely to be in the 60-70 mph range. (NWS, NWS Fire Weather, JTWC)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico/Eastern Pacific/Central Pacific:
Tropical Cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at 5:05 p.m. EST, December 26, 2007, 31 miles southeast of Nikolski, AK, and 908 miles west-southwest of Anchorage, AK, at a depth of 35 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami is expected as a result of this event.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)