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National Situation Update: Thursday, December 25, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Snow showers predicted for much of the west today, December 25, west of the Continental Divide. The lower elevations of California, southern Nevada, and southern Arizona will see rain showers. Snow predicted for Sierra Nevada, Grand Tetons, and Wasatch. In lower elevations, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Salt Lake City where 4-8 inches of snow is expected today. Temperatures are predicted to be in the single digits in Glacier National Park and the Washington Cascades.

Midwest:
Isolated snow showers or flurries possible in Michigan and some late-day ice or snow is possible in parts of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The forecasted temperatures will be in the teens in much of North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and far northern Illinois.

Northeast:
Windy and cold weather in the northeastern U.S. with particularly strong winds over New England. Snow showers, including some lake-effect squalls off of Lakes Erie and Ontario, are forecast from northwest Pennsylvania through upstate New York into far northern New England. Forecasted temperatures will be in the upper 20s in northern Maine.  (NOAA, National Weather Service and Various Media Sources)

Midwest Winter Storm Update

Indiana:

• State EOC is not activated.
• Customers without power: 10,014 (-13,058); restoration in some areas will not be complete until December 26. 
• Shelters: 2 / Occupants: 57
• There are no unmet needs and no requests for Federal assistance. (Region V Report December24)
  

Pacific Northwest Winter Storm Update

Oregon
Pacific Gas & Electric is reporting that 47,000 customers remain without power. Despite continued power restoration efforts, new outages continue to occur due to snow and ice-laden tree limbs causing new outages even as crews repair previous damage. A Winter Storm Warming is in effect until December 25 with a system bringing a chance of low elevation snow and freezing rain throughout the evening.  (Region X, DOE Report December 24)

Tropical Weather

Western Pacific:
No activity affecting United States territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

NEXS Exercises Schedule Highlights:

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Joint Field Office (JFO)

15 JFOs support 20 Major Disaster Declarations and 10 Emergency Declarations (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No activity. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Massachusetts is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of a Severe Winter Storm beginning December 11, 2008 and continuing. The Governor is requesting Public Assistance for 5 counties (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester) and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)