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National Situation Update: Friday, February 20, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A storm off the West Coast will produce showers over coastal areas of California, western Oregon and southwest Washington through Saturday.  Light snow is forecast for parts of Montana and Wyoming today.  A High Wind Warning is in effect until 11:00 a.m. MST today for southwest winds of 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph expected across portions of southeast Wyoming.
Midwest:
A clipper system will spread one to three inches of snow across the Dakotas today and intensify as it moves toward the Great Lakes, producing a band of snow from three to six inches over parts of the Corn Belt to the Great Lakes, including the Chicago and Detroit metro areas.  
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for portions of Illinois, Michigan and northern Indiana for snow accumulations in excess of six inches through Saturday evening.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in Illinois and Indiana until further notice.
Northeast
The low pressure system, which affected the region on Thursday, will move into the North Atlantic today but winds will remain gusty, especially across New England.  Lake effect snow will continue off of Lakes Erie and Ontario with some areas receiving up to a foot or more of snow.  Snow showers are also forecast for Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.  A Lake Effect Snow Warning remains in effect until 4:00 p.m. EST Friday for portions of northwest Pennsylvania and until 10:00 a.m. EST Saturday for western and central New York and areas east of Lake Ontario.
South:
A storm passing north of the region will transport enough Gulf moisture to produce snow from the western Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley with some snow mixing with rain over parts of Kentucky and Tennessee.  A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6:00 a.m. EST today for west facing slopes in western Allegany County, Maryland and western portions of the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia.  Total snow accumulations of four to seven inches are expected along west facing slopes.  Westerly winds will also gust to 45 mph at times causing blowing and drifting snow.  A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through Friday afternoon for all of southeast Alabama, eastern portions of central Alabama, southwest and south central Georgia and the eastern panhandle and big bend of Florida due to long durations of low relative humidity.  A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect Saturday afternoon for the eastern panhandle and big bend of Florida.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect for areas generally west of Interstate 35 in north central Texas from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. today for strong and gusty southerly winds and low afternoon humidity.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in eastern Arkansas, southeast Louisiana, and southwest Mississippi until further notice.  (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Severe Weather/Tornadoes

A strong line of thunderstorms moved through northern Georgia over night on Feb 18-19, and moved south through southwest and southeast Georgia and portions of Alabama during the morning hours, bringing large hail, strong winds and tornadoes.

Region IV The Region IV Watch Office in Atlanta is currently at Watch/Steady State and monitoring the situation.

Georgia

  • GA EOC remains at Level 3 (normal operations)
  • NWS reported five tornadoes touched down in 4 counties
  • Counties Affected: 15+ counties reported some damage
  • Fatality: 1; Injuries: 22 
  • Power Outages: 300 (Peak 69,400) - expected restoration unknown
  • Shelters: 1; Population: 6
  • 61 homes destroyed; 292 had major or minor damage; Damage assessments continuing
  • Region IV reports the City of Thomasville had widespread power outages and debris issues (RIV GA Spot Rep #3 Feb 19)
  • The Thomasville MOC reports the following damages:
    • Numerous power poles and trees down
    • TV-56t (Comm Cargo) trailer has hole in the top of the trailer due to embedded tree limb
    • Fencing in the Lean-to area ripped from the hinges
    • The guard house, to the entrance to the facility, knocked from foundation
    • Territorial Logistic Center (TLC) trailer has large rip down the top of the trailer. TLC East has been notified to replace
    • Perimeter fencing damage (repaired today)
    • Damage to GSA building's garage type doors
    • Commercial power to the facility was restored Feb 19 at 8:00 p.m. EST (Thomasville MERS Static Report)
    • No request for Federal assistance

Alabama

  • AL EOC remains at Level IV (Normal Operations)
  • 7 counties in Alabama reported storm related damage
  • Power outages: 75 (RIV AL Spot Rep #2 Feb 19 as of 6:00 a.m. EST,  no update available)
  • 5 homes had major or minor damage (RIV AL Spot Rep #2 Feb 19 as of 6:00 a.m. EST, no update available)
  • Downed power lines and trees reported (RIV AL Spot Rep #2 Feb 19)
  • No request for Federal assistance

Volcanic Activity – Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

Although no eruption has occurred, unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues with variable amplitudes of volcanic tremors.  The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is staffed 24 hours a day and continues to closely monitor Redoubt.  The Aviation Color Code remains at ORANGE (second highest level) and the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH (second highest level). (USGS, Alaska Volcano Observatory Feb 17)

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

 The governor of North Dakota requested an emergency declaration as a result of record snowfalls beginning on November 4, 2008, and continuing.  Specifically requested is emergency assistance for snow removal (Category B) under the Public Assistance program for 33 counties and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.  (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:22 EDT