National Situation Update: Monday, January 26, 2009
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Significant National Weather
Midwest
Warm air and moisture from the Gulf Coast will move northward toward the Midwest as a storm system advances out of the Rocky Mountains. The winter weather mixture will cause light freezing rain and light sleet over southern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma in the morning, moving east-northeastward to western Ohio Valley by evening. Moderate icing is possible from east-central Oklahoma through southern Missouri and northern Arkansas through the evening. Light snow will develop Monday afternoon across northeast Kansas, eastern Nebraska, southern Iowa and northern and central Missouri. Monday night and Tuesday, heavier snow is forecast eastward through the Midwest north of the Ohio River into the southern Great Lakes, with freezing rain possible.
Northeast
Some light snow is expected in southwestern Pennsylvania, and moderate lake-effect snow will continue east of Lake Ontario across north-central New York. The remainder of the region will be partly cloudy with cold temperatures. On Tuesday, the region will experience snow, sleet, and freezing rain as a system moves in from the Midwest. Snow should occur across northern West Virginia, northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, southern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. This wintry mix is expected to continue into Wednesday, January 28, with significant snow and ice accumulations possible.
West
A storm system is moving through the Intermountain West, delivering mostly snow to the north with some valley rain and mountain snow showers on Monday. Additional snow accumulations in the mountains could total a foot or more in Colorado, northern New Mexico and Utah. Valley areas should expect 2 to 6 inches of accumulation. The tail end of the storm could bring light snow to the mountains of southern California and western Arizona. Afternoon highs should range from chilly single digits and teens in the northern and central Rockies to the 20s and 30s over the remainder of the interior mountains and valleys. Expect highs from the lower 40s along the Northwest coast and to the 50s to mid-60s across the Southwest and California.
South
Freezing rain will develop from northern Arkansas through northern Tennessee later Monday through Tuesday morning. Temperatures are forecast in the 28 to 32 degree range overnight. Temperatures should warm to above freezing for most areas by Tuesday afternoon allowing the ice to change to rain.
Tuesday rain and showers will move from Texas to North Carolina with only the eastern Gulf Coast, Florida and south Texas remaining dry.(National Weather Service and Media Sources)
Texas Wildfire Updates:
Since Friday, January 16, 2009, the Texas Forest Service has reported 149 new fires and 18,454 acres have burned through January 23, 2009.
The Sanderosa Fire in Jones County resulted in eight residences, 20 outbuildings and multiple vehicles destroyed or damaged. Approximately 200 homes were threatened; however, all residents have returned to their homes. Media reports that the fire has been contained.
The January 12, 2009 crash of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and resulting fatalities caused the State of Texas to ground all of its UH-60 helicopters; thus, limiting aerial wildfire suppression capability.
Currently, the State of Texas has no unmet needs and no Federal assistance has been requested.(Texas Forest Service, Texas State Operations Center, and National Guard Bureau)
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 16:27:51 EDT