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National Situation Update: Friday, November 20, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West 
A strong cold front will move into the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest today. The Oregon headlands will see wind gusts up to 80 mph while the ridge tops of the Sierras will see gusts up to 125 mph. Rain is expected from Washington to the northern San Joaquin Valley of Central California. An additional 6 to 8 inches of rain is forecast in the Olympic Peninsula while the rest of western Washington through the San Francisco Bay area may see rain totals of an inch or more. The Cascades and the northern half of the Sierra Nevada will see heavy snow and gusty winds; the strong winds will reach as far east as Idaho, Nevada and Utah. The storm will weaken on Saturday as it moves eastward through the Great Basin to the northern and central Rockies and mountain snow and gusty winds are expected. A second cold front will arrive Saturday night into Sunday, bringing more rain and snow from Washington, Oregon, and northern California to western sections of Montana and Wyoming.
A third cold front will move into Washington and Oregon early next week.

South
Thunderstorms with some very heavy rain is expected later today or tonight for parts of southeast Texas;  rainfall totals may reach 5 to 8 inches with some locally heavier amounts which may cause some flooding. Lighter rain is expected northward into eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas and Louisiana.
On Saturday the rain will move northwards into the lower Mississippi Valley and the Southeast as it tapers off in Texas and the Gulf region may see rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches. On Sunday the rain will move into the western portions of Virginia and North Carolina as the rain tapers off in the Southeast, leaving only occasional showers in the region. Northern Florida may see a few thunderstorms on Sunday.

Northeast
As a storm system moves up through the Great Lakes into Canada, the Northeast will see some scattered rain today. The rain will be mostly in New York and New England, with a few showers possible into northern Pennsylvania and New Jersey; areas closer to Canada will see the most rain with rainfall totals from one half to one inch. By Sunday night into Monday the rain will move northwards with the heaviest rain expected from the mid-Atlantic coast to southern New England.
Midwest
The Midwest will be dry today except for a few showers around the Great Lakes. The region will remain dry through Sunday when light showers are possible from western Lake Superior to Kansas as well as a few showers moving southward toward the Ohio River. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) 

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

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 Saturday 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

Severe Weather PDAs
Nor’easter created by Tropical Storm Ida November 13-14:
New Jersey:
• IA and PA PDAs continue in Atlantic and Cape May and Ocean counties.  PDAs in Monmouth, Cumberland, Middlesex and Burlington have yet to be scheduled.
Virginia:
• IA PDAs that began November 16 in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Chesapeake, Poquoson, and Hampton have been completed.
• PA PDAs continue in Norfolk, Hampton, Virginia Beach, and Newport News.
Delaware:
• PA PDAs continue in Kent and Sussex counties.
Alabama:
• PA PDAs continue in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
North Carolina:
• PA PDAs for Dare, Hyde and Currituck Counties are scheduled to begin November 23.
Storms created by Tropical Storm Ida on October 29, 2009:
Louisiana
• IA and PA PDAs continue in Bossier, Caddo and Webster Parishes.

Wildfire Update

Disaster Declaration Activity

On November 19, 2009 the Governor of Arkansas requested a Major Disaster Declaration due to severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning October 29, 2009 and continuing. The Governor is requesting Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, for 37 Counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)