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National Situation Update: Friday, February 27, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South
A cold front moving through the region will produce showers and thunderstorms from Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas to the western Carolinas. Some thunderstorms will be severe, producing hail and strong winds. Locally heavy rain is expected across northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. A Fire Warning has been issued for Taylor County in central Texas. Flood Warnings continue for several rivers in eastern Arkansas.
Midwest
A strong upper-level disturbance will move across South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, bringing snow to the north-central Plains. A cold front moving eastward through the Ohio Valley will slowly move over Michigan, producing showers and thunderstorms. A Winter Storm Warning will continue until early Friday morning in northern and northeastern Michigan for heavy snow with accumulations up to nine inches. Flood Warnings continue for rivers in central Illinois, and northern Indiana.
Northeast
The Northeast will be wet and mild today ahead of an approaching cold front. The front is expected to produce heavy rain and strong winds for northern New York, northern Maine and Vermont. A High Wind Watch remains in effect for northern Maine, with southerly winds from 25 to 35 mph and gusts to 55 mph.
West
Some snow is forecast for areas in Montana, Wyoming and the Colorado Rockies.  The rest of the region will be mostly dry. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for southeast and western Montana until noon MST today for heavy snow.(NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Maine Winter Storm

The EOC has returned to normal operations (Level 1). Exactly 246 customers remain without power statewide; Central Maine Power reports 246 customers remain without power and Bangor Hydro Electric Company reports no current outage notifications.(Final Reports - Central Maine Power and Bangor Hydroelectric) All shelters and warming centers are closed (ME EOC). No Federal assistance requested

Lake Meade's Water Level Decrease

The Southern Nevada Water Authority reports that the Colorado River system is experiencing the worst water drought on record. Lake Meade's water level has dropped by approximately 100 feet since Jan 2000 and could fall below 1,000 feet in as little as two years, leaving the two intake pipes delivering water to Las Vegas non-functional. The Southern Nevada Water Authority and its member agencies have adopted a drought plan to meet demands during the anticipated shortage. Lake Mead, the reservoir behind the Hoover Dam in the Colorado River, supplies water to ninety percent of southwestern Nevada, including Las Vegas, and other metropolitan areas such as Phoenix, AZ, and Los Angeles, CA. (NICC, and Various Media Sources)

Rhodes Ranch Fire, Texas

A fire that began in western Taylor County on Tuesday, Feb 24, has regenerated approximately 20 miles southwest of Abilene, TX. The fire is posing an immediate threat to 125 residents and 300 to 400 people have been evacuated. The fire has burned 1,500 acres and is ten percent contained. The Texas Forest Service is providing one incident commander, six dozers, two engines, one air attack, one lead plane, and two helicopters. An FMAG was approved for this event on February 27, 2009. (FEMA Operations Center, and Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

FEMA-2795-FM-TX was approved on February 27, 2009 for the Rhodes Ranch Fire, (Taylor County) in Texas.(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 16:27:12 EDT