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National Situation Update: Sunday, March 8, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A series of frontal systems dropping into the Pacific Northwest will spread showers southward into northern California.  Snow levels will drop to near sea level in western Washington and heavy snow will spread inland from the Cascades and northern Sierra to Montana, Wyoming and the mountains of Colorado.  The region will be cold early this week with temperatures 5 to 30 degrees below average.

Midwest:
A low pressure system moving across the region will produce widespread precipitation.  Southern Minnesota, south-central Wisconsin and Michigan could see up to six inches of new snow. Areas to the south will get a narrow band of wintry mix and freezing rain.  Heavy rain will continue from eastern Missouri to central and southern Michigan and Ohio. Some areas will see more than two inches of rain in the next 24 hours. Severe thunderstorms are forecast from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley. Severe thunderstorms are defined as producing hail and/or damaging wind gusts and/or isolated tornadoes.  Temperatures north of the front will only reach into the 20s. South of the front temperatures will reach the 70s in the Ohio Valley. A second more potent storm is forecast for the region early next week.

South:
The tail end of a cold front will produce scattered thunderstorms from Arkansas and western Tennessee to eastern Texas.  The same area is being watched for potential development of severe thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday.  Warm air will continue to dominate the region with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

Northeast:
A frontal system extends across the Mid-Atlantic with very warm air to the south. Highs will range from the 30s in northern Maine to near 80 in southern Virginia.  Western New York and Pennsylvania will see up to an inch of rain.  Later tonight, a wintery mix of sleet and snow will spread into New England. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Texas Wildfires

Tuscola (Taylor County): 300 acres; 65% contained; 3 structures destroyed; FMAG #2798 approved March 5.

#1053 (Ector County): 640 acres; 75% contained; 2 structures destroyed.

Loma del Norte (Brewster County): 800 acres; 75% contained, 150 structures destroyed. FMAG #2797 approved March 3.

Linn San Manuel: 1,000 acres; percentage contained unknown; 2 structures destroyed.

Spring Creek: 1,200 acres; 75% contained; no structures destroyed.

West Fork Fire: 2,400 acres; 80% contained; no structures destroyed. (Southern Area Coordination Center Morning Report Mar 7,  and Texas State Operations Center)

Oklahoma - Taloga/Putnam Fire, Taloga and Dewey Counties

  • FMAG #2799 was approved March 5, 2009.
  • 20,000 acres (acreage was re-evaluated by the state and was re-adjusted).
  • 50% containment.
  • 10 structures destroyed; 372 homes threatened.
  • Voluntary evacuations for 200 people.

Volcano Activity

Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

  • Unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues. Seismicity is at low levels compared to the past month and is dominated by small discrete earthquakes.Seismic activity has declined over the week.
  • Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
  • Volcano Alert Level: WATCH

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Eastern 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 significant activity. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

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