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National Situation Update: Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A series of disturbances rotating around the upper level low off the West Coast will continue to bring widespread precipitation to the region.  The heaviest precipitation amounts are expected in northern and central California where more than two and a half inches of additional rain is forecast during the next 24 hours. Localized flooding, debris flows and mudslides are possible.  Snow is forecast above 4,000 feet and higher elevations in the Sierras' will receive several additional feet of snow. The southwest will be warm and dry.
Midwest:
Under an upper level ridge, most of the region will be dry with a gradual warming trend.  Precipitation will be limited to snow showers and light freezing drizzle in a band from eastern Montana to the Great Lakes.
South:
Under high pressure, the southeast will remain generally cold and dry. Following a near record cold morning with temperatures in the teens and 20s (including areas in northern Florida), today's highs will range from the 50s east and in the 60s to lower 70s west. Temperatures are forecast to become more seasonable later in the week.  To the west, near record high temperatures are expected in the Southern Plains and Texas with highs from 70s to near 90.
Northeast:
Under high pressure, the region will remain generally cold and dry. Temperatures will moderate today but highs will range from the teens and 20s to the north to the low 40s in the south.(NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Winter Storm Response

Region III:   

  • RRCC - Watch/Steady State, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. EST
  • State Issues:

Maryland

  • State EOC Level I, normal operations;
  • Power outages: Approximately 1,349
  • Warming stations/occupants: 1/0
  • No requests for Federal assistance

Virginia

  • State EOC normal operations
  • Governor declared state of emergency
  • Power outages: 7,937
  • Warming stations/occupants: 7 / 0

Region IV:  

  • RRCC - Watch/Steady State, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST
  • State Issues: 

Georgia

  • State EOC is not activated
  • Power outages: 13,000
  • No requests for Federal assistance at this time

North Carolina

  • State EOC is not activated
  • Power outages: 4,789
  • No request for federal assistance at this time

South Carolina

  • State EOC partially activated with ESFs 1, 13 & 16
  • Power outages: 4,577 restoration expected later today
  • Shelters/occupants: 2 / 1
  • No requests for federal assistance at this time (FEMA NRCC, FEMA Regions I, II, III, IV, DOE Mar03)

Texas Wildfires

Rhodes Ranch Fire (Taylor County): 3,026 acres; 89% contained; 2 structures destroyed
West Fork Fire (Jack County): 2,400 acres; 80% contained.
Wilderness Ridge (Bastrop County): 1,200 acres; 70% contained; 62 structures destroyed and 200 homes threatened.
Loma Delnorta fire (Brewster County): 600 acres; )% contained. (Southern Area Coordination Center Report, Mar3)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

FMAG 2797-FM-TX was declared on March 3, 2009.  The Loma Delnorta fire is located in the Brewster County, Texas.  The fire has burned 600 acres; approximately 20 people were voluntarily evacuated.  The fire is currently zero percent contained. (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 16:27:06 EDT