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National Situation Update: Saturday, December 27, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
A cold front will move eastward into the western Great Lakes, mid-Mississippi Valley and lower Ohio Valley Saturday, December 27. Heavy rains will precede the front; heavy rain combined with frozen ground, rapid snow melts and ice jams will cause some flooding. Severe thunderstorms and strong winds are possible from eastern Missouri into the lower Ohio Valley and northward into southern Michigan. Behind the cold front, rain will change to freezing rain, sleet and possibly snow from central Iowa to Kansas, but with minimal accumulations; snow showers are expected in the eastern Dakotas and northern Minnesota. As the cold front finishes moving through Lower Michigan and the Ohio Valley early Sunday morning, a squall line of heavy rain and thunderstorms could continue to produce some damaging wind gusts. Saturday high temperatures will range from single digits and teens in North Dakota to the 60s and 70s in the Ohio Valley. The temperatures in the Ohio Valley will be up to 30 degrees above average, and a number of new daily records could be set.
South
Heavy rain and thunderstorms will produce several inches of rain in parts of Arkansas, eastern Texas and northwest Louisiana; some thunderstorms may be severe with damaging wind gusts and possible tornadoes. A windy cold front will continue eastward into Arkansas and eastern Texas with highs only in the 40s across Oklahoma and west Texas. Saturday will be very warm across most of the South, with highs ranging from the 60s and 70s in the Tennessee Valley and the Carolinas, the low 80s in south Texas, and the upper 70s to mid 80s in Florida. Record highs are likely in the Tennessee Valley and Southeast.
Northeast
Some light rain will continue over the northern Mid-Atlantic Saturday with light freezing rain quickly changing to rain over Upstate New York and interior central and southern New England. Dense fog could form over parts of the Northeast. Highs Saturday will range from 29 in northern Maine to 76, a record high, in Charleston, West Virginia.
West
Rain is forecast for the lower elevations of western Washington and western Oregon; remaining snow accumulations in Seattle and Portland will melt and wash away. Rainfall will be as much as 1 to 2 inches across western Washington, western Oregon and northwest California. Some urban flooding is possible in Seattle and Portland, where storm drains may still be blocked by snow. On Saturday heavy one to two feet of snow will fall in the Cascades, and extend into the interior as far east as the northern Rockies. Highs Saturday will range from the teens in eastern Montana and the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, the 40s in western Oregon and western Washington, and into the low to middle 60s in the lowest elevations of Southern California. Late Saturday and Sunday a Pacific cold front moves into the region; rain will continue from western Washington to northern California and snow is expected across the interior Northwest. (NOAA, NWS and Media Sources)

Oahu Hawaii Power Outage

FEMA Region IX reports that lightening strikes to the major power lines on the Island of Oahu caused all power generation stations on the island to shut down. As many as 293,000 residents are reported without power.  Power is out in downtown Honolulu, Kaimuki, Waikiki, Pearl City, Kapolei and other areas. 

A Hawaiian Electric Co (HECO) spokesman said a lightning strike surged the system, causing generators to automatically shut down as a safety measure. By 8:35 p.m. HST city officials said that all generators had gone out, and the power may not be restored for at least 12 hours. At this time, Hawaii Warning Point reports that HECO is bringing Power Plant #1 at Kahe back on line.

Region IX reports that HECO had requested and the State will provide helicopters to look for downed power lines at first light.

The airport has power for the tower and runways.  Honolulu International Airport is operational inbound and outbound.

Extra police and emergency personnel are being called to duty.  Governor's representatives are in the Hawaii Warning Point at Diamondhead.  A crises action team is being assembled.   City of Honolulu spokesman reported that the city has activated the Emergency Operations Center. There have been no Federal requests for generators at this time.(Region IX, media reports)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Earthquake Activity

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred December 27, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. EST 57 miles north of Philadelphia, PA at a reported depth of 2.5 miles. There have been no reports of damage or injury.(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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

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