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National Situation Update: Monday, January 19, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest:
For this afternoon and evening, an Alberta Clipper system, moving out of Canada, will bring light snow across the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, with most areas only seeing an inch-or-two of accumulation.  This system will move through the middle Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley overnight into January 20, bringing more light snow.
South:
Several weak disturbances may bring periodic snow showers to Tennessee, North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and parts of northern Georgia and northeastern Alabama.  Any snow should be light, with accumulations confined to the mountainous areas
Afternoon temperatures will range from the 30s and 40s over the Southeast to the 60s and 70s over southern Florida, Oklahoma and Texas.
Northeast:
Several disturbances will move through the region over the next 48 hours, creating the possibility of lake-effect snow showers and squalls mostly off of Lake Ontario, with a few bands of snow possible off of Lake Erie.
Temperatures will remain below average with highs in the 20s to mid-30s.
West:
The lower elevations of the Northwest will be cool, with afternoon highs in the 20s and 30s in the interior and 40s and 50s along the coast.  The areas that are below freezing are dealing with freezing fog and areas of black ice. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Presidential Inauguration Weather Forecast

Snow likely today, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 60%, with new snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. (NWS)

Avian Influenza Report

As of January 14, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the following statistics for H5N1 Avian Influenza in 15 reported countries:

From 2003 - 2009, 394 human-contracted H5N1 Avian Influenza cases were reported, with 248 confirmed deaths.

For 2008, there were 42 total confirmed cases and 31 total fatalities.

There have been a total of four (4) fatalities so far for 2009.  (WHO, Open Source Media)

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 Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. EST, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred 80 miles southeast of Cold Bay, AK in the Aleutian Chain.  There were no reports of damage, injuries or tsunami.(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 16:28:01 EDT