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National Situation Update: Monday, January 4, 2010

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A storm system moving in off the Pacific will produce rain and mountain snow in the Northwest.  Western Washington will receive up to an inch of rain with less than an inch expected in western Oregon.  In higher elevations accumulations up to a foot of new snow is possible. Expect snow down to the major pass levels this morning but turning to rain later in the day.  The system will spread precipitation into Idaho, western Montana, and northern Wyoming.

Midwest:
Near Lake-effect snow will continue through tomorrow around Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.  The heaviest totals are expected in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana.  Most areas should see four to 10 inches with over a foot expected in some areas.  A cold dome of high pressure will produce morning lows between -10F and -30F over the Northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley and from -10F to +20F over the remainder of the region.

South:
Light snow and flurries over the lower Mississippi Valley will come to an end this morning; however, northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri could pick up an inch of new snow.  Morning low temperatures will drop below freezing as far south as central Florida and southern Texas.  Red Flag Warnings are in effect for southeast Alabama, southwest Georgia, and northwest Florida for low relative humidity. A cold and very dry air mass will be in place for much of this week Red Flag conditions will be possible each day.

Northeast:
With the weekend storm moving away from the region the sustained winds will decrease to 10 to 25 mph with gusts over 30 mph, but will remain blustery through tomorrow.  Snow will continue for much of the region today with significant accumulation in the Appalachians.  Lake-effect snow squalls could produce up to a foot of snow through this afternoon with additional accumulations tonight and tomorrow.  (NOAA, National Weather Service and Various Media Sources) 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Hail Criterion Changes January 4, 2010

 On Tuesday January 4, 2010 at 6:01 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST), the National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Tulsa will operationally change the minimum hail size criterion used to issue Severe Thunderstorm Warning (SVR) and Severe Weather Statement (SVS) products. This change will affect all NWS Offices across the nation. The change will increase the minimum hail size criterion from three-quarter inch (penny) diameter or larger hail, which has been the NWS’s warning criterion for hail since the 1950s, to one inch (quarter) diameter or larger hail. No change is being made to the severe thunderstorm wind criterion of gusts equal to or in excess of 50 knots (58 mph). Based on results of the experimental test period, the number of severe thunderstorm warnings that NWS offices issue may decrease by as much as 30 to 40 percent annually. (Excerpt from http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/?n=hailchange) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity in the U.S.
Outside of the U.S. the following 3 events occurred: 

  • At 4:48 p.m. EST, on January 3, 2010, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred off shore 55 miles SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands at a depth of 6.2 miles.  There were no reports of a tsunami, damage or injuries. 
  • At 5:36 p.m. EST, on January 3, 2010, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred off shore 65 miles SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands at a depth of 19 miles.  There were no reports of a tsunami, damage or injuries.
  • At 11:17 p.m. EST, on January 3, 2010, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred off shore 76 miles SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands at a depth of 21.7 miles.  There were no reports of a tsunami, damage or injuries.  (USGS, NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center) 

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 04-Jan-2010 08:31:37 EST