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National Situation Update: Monday, February 23, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Northeast:  A rapidly intensifying storm will target northern New England with heavy snow today. Increasingly strong winds will cause blowing and drifting snow from the eastern tip of Maine to New Brunswick. Travel may become impossible at times through this morning. Wind-swept snow will continue to cover the region from northern New York state to Maine. Lake effect snows will continue over the southern shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario and snow showers and flurries will fall over interior New York state, western and northern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Winter storm warnings are in effect for all of northern New England, portions of northern Massachusetts,  and the mountains of West Virginia but will end by this afternoon. Total snowfall in many areas may exceed a foot. Temperatures will be noticeably below winter averages with highs ranging from the teens in southwest New York state and northwest Pennsylvania to the mid-40s in south-central Virginia.

Midwest:  The Midwest and Great Plains will remain dry today except for a few snow showers and flurries in Michigan and parts of Indiana and Ohio. Lake-effect snow and winter storm warnings are in effect for portions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northwest lower Michigan. Temperatures are expected to be below normal seasonal means east of the Mississippi Valley and near to above seasonal means west of the Mississippi Valley with high temperatures ranging from the upper teens in northeast North Dakota to the low 60s in southwest Kansas.

West:  Wet weather will continue today over much of the West, but will be concentrated in western Oregon and northern California. Snow is expected in the mountain regions from the Casacades and Sierra Nevada to the Rockies. Winter storm warnings are in effect for the high Sierra above 7500 feet where 2 to 4 feet of snow is forecast to accumulate through Tuesday. High temperatures will be near to above average for the season with highs ranging from the upper teens in Glacier National Park to the upper 80s in southeast California and southern Arizona.

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, R-X)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity.  (FEMA HQ)

Critical Fire Weather

A continental flow will spread across the southeastern states behind a cold front with strengthening surface winds which will result in critical fire weather conditions for  portions of extreme central New Mexico, the Texas panhandle, western Oklahoma, the coastal plain of South Carolina, and Georgia. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the eastern Florida panhandle and Big Bend, southeast Alabama, and southwest and south-central Georgia.

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

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred at 7:04 p.m. EST on February 23, 2009, 205 miles from Anchorage, AK, at a depth of 59 miles. There were no reports of injury or damage and no tsunami was generated. (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 16:27:18 EDT