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National Situation Update: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
High pressure centered over Utah and Colorado, coupled with a ridge of high pressure aloft over the west coast, will keep the region generally dry.  Stagnant air and locally dense fog is forecast in the valleys of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, and northern Utah.  A High Wind Warning is in effect until noon today for south-central Washington and north-central Oregon, with expected winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts of 50 to 75 mph.  A warning is also in effect for Honolulu, Hawaii with west winds of 60 to 80 mph with even stronger gusts over the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect for portions of eastern Colorado from Noon CST to 6:00 p.m. CST.  A Fire Weather Watch is also in effect through Monday afternoon.  The Santa Ana winds will gradually weaken in Southern California.
Midwest:
The circulation on the backside of the low over the eastern Great Lakes will produce snow showers across the upper Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and middle and upper Ohio Valley.  Temperatures will be moderating, rising into the 20s around the Great Lakes and low 60s in Kansas and Nebraska.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect for portions of southwestern Kansas from Noon CST to 6:00 p.m. CST.  A Fire Weather Watch is also in effect through Monday afternoon.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in Illinois and Missouri until further notice.
South:
The tail end of the cold front extending from the low over the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, combined with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, will produce light rain from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Carolinas today.  Some frozen precipitation is likely to fall over the southern Appalachians.
A Freeze Warning is in effect until 8:00 a.m. EST today for inland northeast Florida.
Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama until further notice.
Northeast:
A low pressure system moving over the Great Lakes, and the associated frontal system extending to the south, will produce a wide area of snow from the Great Lakes to New England.  Pennsylvania will get two to four inches, Upstate New York will see from three to six inches while New England will have four inches along the coast and up to a foot in the interior.  A Lake Effect Snow Warning is in effect for northern upper Michigan until 7:00 a.m. EST on Monday.
The mid-Atlantic will have a wintery mix of rain and snow showers, but only the Appalachians will see significant accumulations.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for portions of New Hampshire, the majority of Michigan, and Maine, until Midnight tonight.  Today's highs range from near 10 in northern Maine to the upper 40s in southeast Virginia. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Presidential Inauguration Weather Forecast

The National Weather Service predicts a 40% chance of snow showers today in the D.C. Metro area, and a 30% chance through late Monday morning.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.  From Sunday, January 18 to Wednesday, January 21, low temperatures will be in the 20s with highs in the 30s.  Expect mostly to partly cloudy days for Monday, January 19 and Tuesday January 20. (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

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 16:28:02 EDT