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National Situation Update: Saturday, February 28, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South
Severe thunderstorms are possible across the Southeast through much of the day as a low pressure system pushes across the region; large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible.  Tornado Watches are in effect until 9:00 a.m. this morning for central Alabama.  Very heavy rain is expected across the Southeast, resulting in numerous flood and flash flood warnings; many areas may receive two to four inches of rain with locally higher amounts reaching five to six inches.  Rain turns to snow across western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas and northern Mississippi by late afternoon or evening; snow accumulations up to two inches are forecast in some locations.  Red Flag Warnings will be in effect from noon until 6:00 p.m. today for most of eastern and southern Texas due to strong northerly winds and low relative humidity.  Highs today will range from the 30s in northern Arkansas and northwest Tennessee to the low to middle 80s across much of the Florida Peninsula.
Northeast
Some light rain is forecast over parts of the Middle Atlantic region; rain will turn to snow showers over West Virginia.  Snow showers are forecast over parts of Upstate New York and northern New England.
Highs today will range from the upper teens and low 20s along the Canadian border to the low and middle 40s in the Mid Atlantic region, with low 50s in Virginia.  A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for snow for the DC Metro area, effective Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.  Low pressure along the Gulf Coast will move east tonight, emerging in the western Atlantic near Georgia and South Carolina by Sunday morning.  The low will strengthen as it moves north along the coast through Sunday night.  Accumulations of five or more inches of snow are possible.
West
More rain and mountain snow will continue for northern and central California, Oregon, and Washington until Sunday, March 1, 2009.  Snow levels will range from between 3,000 and 4,000 feet in the Washington Cascades to between 4,500 and 5,500 feet in the Siskiyou and Mount Shasta area of northern California and about 7,500 feet in the central Sierra.  Moderate rain is anticipated across northern California, easing potential drought problems for the State of California.
Midwest
Snow is expected over southern Iowa and Missouri today while a mix of rain and snow is forecast for Kentucky; most areas can expect an accumulation of 1 to 3 inches of precipitation.  Flood Warnings remain in effect for several rivers in northern and western Indiana and western Illinois.  Highs today will range from the single digits and teens in North Dakota and Minnesota to the 30s in the Ohio Valley and the 40s to near 50 in western Kansas and western Nebraska. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Drought Update

California
On Feb 27, the Governor of California declared a State of Emergency due to current drought conditions.  To prepare for California's third consecutive year of anticipated drought, the Governor ordered immediate action to manage the crisis. In the proclamation, the Governor exercised his authority to direct all state government agencies to utilize their resources, implement a state emergency plan and provide assistance for people, communities, and businesses potentially impacted by the drought. California's state and federally operated reservoirs are at their lowest levels since 1992 and Federal water managers plan to temporarily cut off water supplies to thousands of farms on Mar 1. California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will provide 15 percent of the water requested for the state's 750,000 acres of farmland. As a result, farmers are fallowing their fields and terminating thousands of agricultural workers. (Office of the California Governor Official Press Releases, NICC, open sources)

Georgia
Despite exiting drought status at the end of 2008, most of Georgia returned to drought conditions after an abnormally dry January and February. In a report released by the Georgia State Climatologist, officials assert northeast Georgia is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions, northwest Georgia is abnormally dry and southwest to southeast Georgia remains in a mild drought. The cool season - October through April - is critical for the state. That's when it typically receives moisture recharge to the soils, groundwater, rivers and reservoirs. Over the past 30 days, almost the entire state has received less than half of its normal rainfall. Much of the northern coastal plain has received less than a quarter of normal rain. Georgia's major reservoirs Lanier, Hartwell, Russell, and Clarks Hill remain near record lows. The report assesses Georgia will endure another year of drought if the state does not receive significant rain in the next two months. (UGA CAES, NICC, Open Sources)

Texas Wildfires

Initial attack activity was high yesterday across most of the State, with 11 new fires affecting 4,258 acres, as reported by Texas Forest Service. Assistance was requested on three new large fires in Shackelford, Caldwell, and Taylor counties, and work continues on large fires from previous days. No activity was reported on federally protected lands. (TX Interagency Incident Management Situation Report, Feb 27)

Nail Ranch Complex (Shackelford County): 304 acres; 20% contained; No structures were reported to be involved.
Panther Ranch Fire (Caldwell County): 1,000 acres; no estimate of containment available.
Rhodes Ranch Fire (Taylor County): 2,500 acres; 20% contained; numerous residences and buildings damaged. (Region VI Follow-up Report, 1:40 pm Feb 27)

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 16:27:10 EDT