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National Situation Update: Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather

Midwest
A cold front will produce some showers over parts of the Midwest.  Shower activity will extend from Michigan and Ohio westward to eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas.
Thunderstorms may become strong with hail or gusty winds from western Indiana to southern Missouri.

High temperatures will be much cooler from the Great Lakes and upper-Mississippi Valley to the Central Plains.  Temperatures across the Central Plains will drop from the 70s and low 80s Tuesday to the 60s Wednesday.

West
The northwest will see some precipitation but not as much as the last several days.
Some mountains in Washington have picked up 4 to 5 feet of snow since Saturday.
Periods of rain and snow will fall over western Washington, the Cascades and the northern and central Rockies.

Another strong system will move into the northwest on Thursday.  Precipitation and colder temperatures will move into the west coast this weekend as a trough of low pressure aloft becomes much deeper.  Increase in rain, mountain snow and wind across portions of California and the Intermountain West.


Northeast
The cold front that is moving down into the Midwest will also affect parts of the northeast Wednesday bringing showers from northern New England to western Pennsylvania.

Showers will spread to the eastern seaboard overnight Wednesday into early Thursday.
Rain may change to wet snow over higher elevations of northern New England and Upstate New York Wednesday night into early Thursday, but amounts will be light.
Areas from Boston to New York City can expect highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
Portions of northern Upstate New York and northern New England will see the 40s and low 50s.

South
A weak front may bring some scattered showers over parched areas of southern Florida.
Some patchy fog is possible over the western Carolinas early Wednesday morning.  Showers and thunderstorms will expand over parts of eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee by late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning as a front approaches the area.

Scattered light showers will continue south with the front Thursday extending from North Carolina to the northern part of the lower-Mississippi Valley.
Highs in the 70s and 80s will prevail, with slightly cooler temperatures in the southern Appalachians.   (NWS, Media Sources)

North Dakota Flood Preparations

Current Weather
Record-to-near-record-flooding is a possibility in Fargo, Grand Forks, Sabin, Hawley, Dilworth, Hendrum, Hallock and Mapleton, ND.

A powerful storm system currently well off the west coast of the United States is forecast to move inland late this week. As the low pressure center moves through, significant precipitation amounts in the form of rain or rain mixed with snow may occur.

 If this storm develops as currently forecast, it could have a significant impact on area flooding.  As the low pressure center moves through, significant precipitation amounts in the form of rain or rain mixed with snow may occur.( Region VIII DSAR, NOAA)

North Dakota:
State EOC is activated.
Monitoring Red River Flooding preparations. 
State and local agencies are monitoring the situation and making preparations for the forecast flooding.  As of March 13, 2009, Pembina, Ramsey, Richland, Nelson, Grand Forks, and Cass Counties have issued emergency declarations and a declaration is pending in Stutsman County. 
On March 6, 2009, the City of Fargo issued an emergency declaration and on March 11, 2009, the City of Grand Forks issued an emergency declaration. 
On March 13, 2009, the Governor issued an Executive Order proclaiming a flood emergency exists within the state to assist local jurisdictions with their flood preparations. 
On March 13, 2009, the Governor also requested that the USACE provide assistance to jurisdictions in the Devils Lake, Red River of the North, and Souris River Basins.
The State has requested US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) assistance with perpetrations.
A number of potentially affected towns are building temporary levees with some assistance from USACE.
Mobile Canteens provided by Salvation army in Fargo area.

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE):
Working with local & state EMA for flood preparations.
1 million sandbags available across the region.
Flooding engineers surveying basin for threatened communities.
Provided tech assistance to raise levees in Oslo, MN by 3ft.
Pre-positioned pump in Pembina, ND;
Reducing reservoir levels.
Lake Traverse, Wheaton, MN; from 977.3ft to 974.5ft.
Orwell Reservoir, Fergus Falls, MN; from 1064ft to 1050ft.

Fargo, ND:
Requested construction of temporary Levees to protect city.

Nelson County (Devil's/Stump Lake):
Projects 3-4ft rise during spring; may flood historic sites.
Requested construction of temporary Levees

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
No current tropical cyclone warnings.  (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Eastern Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings.  (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Western Pacific:
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 16:26:49 EDT