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National Situation Update: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

 South:
A developing storm in the Gulf of Mexico will bring rain, thunderstorms and wind across the Southeast. A rainfall total of 2 to 4 inches is likely; locally 6 to 8 inches of rain is possible around the central Gulf region. Flood watches extend from the Gulf Coast to the Appalachians.

Damaging winds are possible from northern Georgia into the Appalachians and the western Carolinas. Severe storms are possible from southeast Mississippi to central and southern portions of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina as a cold front approaches from the Gulf. Isolated severe storms may occur over eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia overnight. Further west, rain is expected from Oklahoma and Texas to the Lower-Mississippi Valley.

Northeast:
Rain and increasing winds will affect the Mid-Atlantic States during the afternoon, and then move northward, delivering heavy wind-driven rain across western New York tonight and the rest of the region Thursday. Rain totals will generally be in the 1-to-2 inch range with wind gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph near the coast.  (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Midwest: 
Rain and wind will expand from the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys northward into Michigan overnight. Cold air will trail the storm, possibly changing to snow or a mixture of rain and snow over portions of Missouri and Illinois by afternoon. This system will move into parts of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan this evening. Lake-effect snow will develop Thursday across parts of Michigan; significant snowfall can be expected, especially in the Upper Peninsula. Elsewhere, scattered snow showers will affect the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest over the next couple of days.

West:
Snow showers are expected in the Rockies, and adjacent High Plains including Denver, where accumulation of a few inches of snow is possible.  (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Various Media Sources) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic
A stationary front is bringing high seas, wind and individual significantly high waves. Gale force winds are possible over the next 24 hours.
Eastern Pacific
No activity threatening U.S. 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)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On December 1, 2009, the Governor of the State of Louisiana requested a major disaster declaration as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred October 29 to November 3, 2009. The Governor is requesting individual and public assistance and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) associated with Tropical Storm Ida occurring Oct 28, 2009 continues in Louisiana.

Public Assistance PDAs associated with winter storms occurring November 16, 2009 continue in Kansas.  (FEMA HQ) 

Last Modified: Wednesday, 02-Dec-2009 07:40:25 EST