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National Situation Update: Saturday, November 14, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Northeast
Rain and gusty winds will continue through today in areas of New Jersey to New England. The strongest winds will be on Cape Cod and the Islands - wind gusts to 50 mph are possible this morning around Nantucket. Areas from Maine to New York and West Virginia will be dry today. By Sunday the storm will move far enough out to sea to only produce some lingering rain in Maine.
South
The South will remain dry over the weekend but by Sunday and Monday a cold front moving out of the southern Plains will bring showers and a few thunderstorms over the south-central states.
West
A significant snow event will begin today affecting the Rockies from Idaho to Utah. Later today the snow will start to fall in Denver and the Front Range. The storm will continue on Sunday, bringing snow to eastern Utah, northeast Arizona, northern New Mexico, Colorado, and southern Wyoming. By Sunday afternoon the snowfall from eastern Denver to the foothills could reach 5 to 8 inches. Temperatures could reach 10 to 20 degrees below average on Sunday.
Midwest
An approaching cold front will bring scattered showers to areas from the western Great Lakes to the south-central Plains. Temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above average ahead of the cold front. By Sunday the cold front will reach from the eastern Great Lakes into the southern Plains. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

East Coast Nor'Easter

Region II
• New Jersey EOC activated at Level III
• Cape May County, New Jersey has declared a local emergency for coastal flooding
• State has requested one IA and three PA PDAs – PDAs to begin November 16
• Approximately 3,100 customers are without power in Atlantic City
• Ocean Drive Beach Bridge closed due to a barge breaking loose in Townsend inlet that struck the Bridge (which connects Sea Isle City with Avalon)

Region III
• Maryland’s Governor declared a State of Emergency
• Maryland EOC has de-activated
• LNO has demobilized from the Maryland EOC
• No reports of significant damage from local jurisdictions
• Delaware’s Governor declared a State of Emergency
• Delaware EOC has de-activated
• Virginia’s Governor declared a State of Emergency
• Eleven counties declared local emergencies
• Virginia EOC remains partially activated
• LNO deployed to Virginia EOC
• Chief Medical Examiner has declared four fatalities due to the storm
• 51,507 customers remain without power
• Seven shelters open in Hampton Roads – population 170
• 19 primary roads with partial or total lane closures and 251 secondary roads are closed
• Midtown Tunnel (US 58) between Norfolk and Portsmouth, VA will remain closed until the next tidal cycle
• The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnels and the High Rise Bridge are open in both directions
• The Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel is open in both directions
• Jamestown-Scotland Ferry (VA 31) re-opened on November 13
• Swift Water Rescue Teams remain on stand-by

Region IV 
• Alabama will begin PA PDAs on November 17

Region VI
• Louisiana will begin IA and PA PDAs on November 17 for Caddo and Bossier parishes
• The Coast Guard has set port conditions
• Port of Baltimore – port status is restricted
• Port of Hampton Roads – port status is closed

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity(FEMA HQ) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

Central Pacific
No tropical cyclones are expected through Sunday afternoon.
Western Pacific 
No activity threatening United States Territories.(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)

Wildfire Update

Note: Fire season is coming to an end - the National Interagency Coordination Center will issue reports only on Fridays unless there is significant activity.
• National Preparedness Level:  1
• National Fire Activity as of  Friday, November 13, 2009
• Initial attack activity:  Light (108 new fires)
• New large fires:  1
• Large fires contained:  1
• Uncontained large fires:  0
• States affected:  AZ and MO  (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 16-Nov-2009 07:49:21 EST