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National Situation Update: Saturday, January 24, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Northeast:
Northwest winds behind an arctic cold front moving into the region will bring the wind chill to below zero across upstate New York and northern New England. Scattered snow showers are forecast over parts of West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, upstate New York and the mountains of northern New England. High temperatures will range from the single digits in northern New York state to the low 50s in south-central Virginia.
Midwest:
Arctic cold is settling into the Plains and Midwest regions. Scattered areas of lake-effect snow are forecast for parts of northern Indiana, Michigan, and northern Ohio. High temperatures will range from a little below zero in northern and eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to near 40 in extreme southwest Kansas. Wind chill temperatures around Chicago may fall to 15 degrees below zero. Northern areas of the region may see wind chills of up to 40 degrees below zero. More snow is expected to develop through the weekend with light accumulations of 1-2 inches by Monday; parts of Nebraska are expected to see snow accumulations of 4-12 inches.
South:
A cold front interacting with some moisture will bring scattered light showers and falling temperatures to the region except for parts of Florida. After the recent cold spell with widespread freeze, the Florida peninsula will warm up and freezing temperatures are no longer in the forecast.  Highs will range from the 30s in northern Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee to the low 80s near Brownsville, Texas.
West:
California and the interior West will continue to see waves of rain and snow showers through tonight. Unfortunately, the rain in California will not be enough to relieve the recent drought and water shortages. Snow will continue to fall in the higher elevations of the Wasatch, Tetons, and western Colorado Rockies. Some areas in western Colorado could see two feet of snow by Sunday morning. High temperatures will range from the single digits in nouthern and eastern Montana to the 70s in southeast California and southwest Arizona.(NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Texas Wildfires

A fire near Abilene, Texas (Sanderosa Fire) has burned approximately 2,000 acres. Eight homes were destroyed as well as 20 barns and outbuildings. Evacuation orders were given for Sanderosa, Texas and temporary shelters were set up. All of the residents have been allowed to return to their homes. No injuries were reported. The fire is currently 20% contained. Areas that were affected in addition to Sanderosa were; Pearsall, Moore Air Force Base and Benson, Texas.
Fire danger is currently high across Texas due to the recent hard winter freezes and little or no rain since January 6, 2009, creating dormant, frost-cured, critically dry vegetation. Each successive cold front passing through without bringing moisture will continue to increase the fire danger. The conditions match those that contributed to the record wildfires in 2006, where one fire burned 947,000 acres near Amarillo, Texas. (NIFC, Texas SOC, Various Media Sources)

Suspected Avian Flu – British Columbia, Canada

News sources report that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has imposed a two mile quarantine zone around a large poultry farm near Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, after several turkeys tested positive for avian flu antibodies. The quarantine zone is approximately 600 yards north of the U.S. border and five miles north of  Lynden, Washington. The closest U.S. city is Sumas, Washington (population 1,204) which borders Abbotsford, B.C.. Testing is underway to determine if the virus exists and what strain may be involved. The farm is in the Fraser River Valley where most of British Columbia's poultry production is located. Nearly all the poultry raised in this area is produced for the domestic Canadian market. The area has had outbreaks of bird flu before; the largest outbreak was in 2004 and required several million birds to be culled.  (Region X, Various News Sources)

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)