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National Situation Update: Thursday, March 5, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West 
Thundershowers are possible in the valleys and along the central California coast through Thursday evening. Some storms may contain small hail and gusty winds. Snow in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains should diminish by Thursday evening. Some coastal rain and snow showers are forecast for the mountains and interior sections of the Northwest Thursday.
Heavier snow is possible in far northwest Montana and northern Idaho during the afternoon and evening.

Midwest 
The northern Plains and northern Great Lakes are expecting a mix of light snow, light freezing rain, and freezing drizzle Thursday through early Friday.
A light glaze of ice is possible in North Dakota and northern Minnesota.

Northeast 
A storm system is expected in the region Thursday night and Friday with a variety of precipitation. Light rain or showers are forecast to spread into the western sections of New York and Pennsylvania on Thursday evening. This system will change to snow or freezing rain after midnight for eastern and northern New York state and New England. Snowy and icy conditions may impact early Friday morning travel.

South 
Strong winds, at times gusting over 45 mph, are expected over western Texas and Oklahoma during the day on Thursday. Winds, high temperatures and very low humidity bring extreme fire danger to southeast Colorado, southwest Kansas, western Oklahoma, western Texas and eastern New Mexico. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Texas Wildfires

Loma del Norte (Brewster County): 600 acres has burned; there is 30% containment; approximately 100 residences and 50 outbuildings have been saved. FMAG #2797 was approved on March 3, 2009.

Pawnee #21 (Bee County): 600 acres has burned; there is 50% containment. All Texas Fire Services' resources have been released.

Rhodes Ranch Fire (Taylor County): 3,026 acres has burned; there is 90% containment. Two structures were destroyed.

West Fork Fire (Jack County): 2,400 acres has burned; there is 90% containment.

Wilderness Ridge (Bastrop County): 1,491 acres has burned; there is 85% containment. 29 homes, 12 businesses, and 13 other structures were destroyed; however, 200 homes, 5 businesses, and 30 outbuildings were saved.(Texas Fire Service, Mar 4)

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

On March 4, 2009, the President signed Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-1827-DR for the State of New York for the Severe Winter Storm that occurred December 11-31, 2008. Specifically, the declaration provides for Public Assistance (Categories A, B, C, F, and G) for the counties of Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington. Direct Federal assistance is authorized. All counties in the State of New York are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation. The FCO is Marianne C. Jackson of the National FCO Program. (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 16:27:05 EDT