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National Situation Update: Monday, December 29, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Rain, mountain snow and wind are forecast for the Pacific Northwest eastward to the northern Rockies. Heavy snow is anticipated for the Cascades, the mountains of central Idaho, and the Grand Tetons. Light snow is expected across Montana during the afternoon and evening. Rain is forecast for the lower elevations west of the Cascades, with the heaviest amounts forecast for the coastal mountains of Oregon and northwest California. Temperatures will be near to above late December averages with highs ranging from the teens in extreme northeast Montana, Glacier National Park and the northern Washington Cascades to the low 70s in parts of Southern California and southern Arizona.

Midwest
A low pressure center will produce strong winds and light snow over the Upper Midwest. Snowfall accumulations will range from one to two inches. Flood Warnings for moderate flooding remain in effect until further notice for several rivers throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Temperatures are predicted to be near or above average for early winter with highs ranging from around 8 or 10 degrees in much of northern North Dakota to near 60 along the Kansas-Oklahoma border.

Northeast
Light snow is possible in areas of western New York State and northwest Pennsylvania; the rest of the region should be dry. Highs are forecast to range from the mid-20s in northern Maine to the low and mid-50s in the lower elevations of West Virginia and western Virginia.

South
Some rain is expected over parts of the Southeast, primarily in the eastern Carolinas; light rain is anticipated in South Georgia, southeast Alabama, and northern Florida. Temperatures will be somewhat above average for the season with highs ranging in the upper 40s in the higher Appalachians to around 80 degrees on the southwest Florida Peninsula. (NOAA, NWS and Media Sources)

Region V Winter Weather

On Sunday, December 28, severe thunderstorms in southern Illinois and southern Indiana brought flash floods and damaging winds; in Michigan strong winds with gusts of 40 to over 50 mph, and snow fall of up to six inches in the Upper Penninsula, created power outages and road closures. Local recovery operations are ongoing.

Indiana
No State EOC activation. No major impacts from flooding or high winds; however, 349 customers are without power. One shelter is open with a population of 16. There are no unmet needs and no requests for State or Federal assistance.

Illinois
No State EOC activation. Several highways and local roads are closed due to areas affected by flooding. There are no unmet needs and no requests for State or Federal assistance.

Michigan
No State EOC activation. CMS Electric reports 91,000 customers without power as of 9:30 p.m. CST December 28. DTE Energy reported that of the 230,000 customers initially without power 155,000 customers have been restored. Several highway have been closed. There are no unmet needs and no requests for State or Federal assistance.

Oahu Hawaii Power Outage Update

On Friday, December 26, numerous lightning strikes on the island of Oahu resulted in power outages affecting approximately 295,000 customers. Hawaii Civil Defense reports 96% of customers have regained power. There are no unmet needs, and no Federal assistance is required. (Region IX, NICC, Hawaii Civil Defense)

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

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:30:27 EDT