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National Situation Update: Friday, January 16, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:  The National Weather Service (NWS) in Hawaii has issued a High Wind Warning for Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai that will remain in effect through 6:00 p.m. PST tonight. Strong wind gusts of over 60 mph are possible on the windward sides of the smaller islands and over higher terrain.

A High Surf Warning remains in effect for the north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui and for the west facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. High surf caused by a northwest swell will continue through the weekend and could build up to 30 feet.

Midwest:
The Midwest will see a warming trend over the next few days but temperatures today will remain 5 to 30 degrees below average. Morning lows will range from near -30 at International Falls to zero along the Ohio River.

A weak weather system may drop 1-4 inches of snow across the Great Lakes tonight through tomorrow.

South:  The southeast will see morning lows ranging from the single digits in the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians to the 20s along the northern Gulf coast and northern Florida.
Highs will range from the 20s in Tennessee to the 50s in west Texas and 60s in the lower Rio Grande and south Florida.

Northeast:
Bands of lake-effect snow will prevail across parts of northwest Pennsylvania, southwest New York and east of Lake Ontario. Over two foot snow accumulations are possible around the Tug Hill Plateau of upstate New York

Parts of northern Maine will see temperatures as low as -30 with the mid-Atlantic seeing temperatures in the teens.  Highs will range from below zero in northern Maine to the 20s in the Washington, D.C. area. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Inaugural Weather Outlook

What is Normal Weather for January Inauguration?

  • Normal high temperature for the day is in the low to mid 40's.
  • Normal low temperature for the day is in the mid to upper 20's.
  • Normal weather for the noon hour is about 37°F under a partly cloudy sky with a 10 mph wind.
  • There is about a 1 in 6 chance of precipitation during the ceremony.
  • There is only about a 1 in 20 chance of snow during the ceremony.
  • If it does rain or snow, there is a 4 to 1 chance it will only wet the pavement.
  • There is about a 3 out of 10 chance that there will be snow already on the ground from a previous snowfall.  (NOAA/NWS)

 Climate Data for January 20

Normal High Normal Low Record High Record Low Record Precipitation Record Snow
42°F 26°F 70°F in 1951 -2°F in 1985 1.77 inches in 1937 3.8 inches in 1975

Critical Fire Weather for Southern California and Florida

The National Weather Service has issued a warning for critical fire weather through 7:00 am EST for southern California and Florida  

California:  the Mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Saturday night due to strong winds and low humidity. Mountain areas can expect winds from 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph, and humidity at or below 20 percent.

Florida:  Northerly winds near 10 to 15 mph will develop by afternoon across Florida. Temperatures will only warm into the upper 50s and lower 60s. Relative humidity will plummet into the mid 20s across Florida. (NWS)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

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

Earthquake Activity

On January 15, 2009, at 12:50 p.m. EST, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred east of the Kuril Islands, Russia, at a depth of 22 miles. No tsunami was generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:28:05 EDT