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National Situation Update: Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Under high pressure most of the region will remain dry.  A few snow showers will fall from Washington into northwest Montana.   Up to a foot of snow is forecast across the mountains of southern Colorado and New Mexico.  In Southern California, a moderate to strong Santa Ana wind will set up, but recent rainfall may lessen the fire threat.
Midwest:
A frontal system will produce a swath of precipitation from the upper Midwest to the Great Lakes and south to Texas.  The system will move slowly eastward through the day.  Behind the front, snow is forecast from the Oklahoma Panhandle to the Great Lakes.  Up to 10 inches of snow is expected from central Wisconsin to Lower Michigan.  Ahead of the front, rain is forecast from the middle Mississippi Valley to western New York State and will gradually spread into New England later in the day.  On the backside of the storm, north to northwest winds will result in night time temperatures dropping below zero in the upper Midwest.
South:
The southern portion of the cold front extending from the system in the Midwest will produce heavy rain and thunderstorms across much of the region.  Up to three inches of rain is expected from southern Illinois to Louisiana. Severe thunderstorms (including gusty winds, large hail and tornadoes) are forecast for eastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Northeast:
Precipitation from the low pressure system moving out of the Midwest will spread across the region. 
Parts of northern Maine may receive several inches of snow before precipitation changes to rain later tonight. (NOAA, National Weather Service and Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Earthquake Activity

On Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 1:24 am EST an earthquake measuring 7.0 struck about 620 miles northeast of Auckland, New Zealand, at a depth of 21.7 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries and there was no tsunami generated. (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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment #7 for FEMA-1792-DR for Louisiana adds Livingston and St. Martin Parishes for Public Assistance. (already designated for Individual Assistance)(FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:30:56 EDT