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National Situation Update: Friday, March 12, 2010

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A frontal system will bring precipitation to much of the West Coast. Lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest will receive one to two inches of rain, while higher elevations will receive a foot or more of new snow. Coastal areas of Washington and Oregon will be windy, with gusts to 60 mph. Rain and mountain snow will gradually move southward to southern California by tonight.
Midwest:
A low pressure system will produce a wintery mix of rain and snow showers from the Dakotas and Kansas to the Great Lakes. A frontal system will produce rain showers and thunderstorms from the Central Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Severe thunderstorms are defined as having one or more of the following: peak winds in excess of 58 miles per hour, hail at least 1 inch in diameter, a tornado or a flash flood.
South:
A cold front moving across the region will deliver heavy rain and thunderstorms to the southeast today and tomorrow. Severe thunderstorms are forecast from eastern Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
Northeast:
A developing low pressure system will produce significant precipitation (three to four inches) over the Mid-Atlantic today and tomorrow. The precipitation and resulting melting of the snowpack will  produce flooding; Flood Watches, Warnings and Advisories are in effect from West Virginia to Southern New England. See http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ for the latest information. The heavy precipitation and threat of flooding will move into New England tonight through Sunday. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Hydro Meteorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)

Daylight Saving Time 2010

 Daylight Saving Time 2010 will happen on Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 a.m., when the clock is moved forward one hour. The time change means the loss of an hour, but the sun will shine longer each day. Studies by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1975 show that Daylight Saving Time trims the entire country’s electricity usage by about one percent each day.  This small but significant amount is the result of less electricity used for lighting and appliances. Daylight Saving Time 2010 is not observed in Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Daylight Saving Time 2010 ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November  (USDOT and media sources) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

Tropical Cyclone 19P
At 10:00 p.m. EST on March 11, the center of Tropical Cyclone 19P was about 558 miles west northwest of American Samoa, moving westward at 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 40 mph, gusting to 52 mph. The system is forecast to turn to the south and begin to gradually accelerate in the next few days. On the forecast track,     Tropical Cyclone 19P does not pose a threat to American Samoa or other U.S. interests.  (JTWC, FEMA HQ) 

Earthquake Activity

USA
No significant earthquake activity in the United States. (USGS).

Chile
Strong aftershocks continue to rock central Chile following the 8.8M earthquake that occurred Feb 27. On Mar 11 the three strongest quakes measured magnitude 6.9, 6.7 and 6.0. The Chilean Navy Oceanography Service issued a tsunami warning at 12:08 p.m. local time and called for evacuations along the coast; however, the alert was lifted later in the day. (USGS, USAID) 

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

New Jersey
Amendments to FEMA-1873-DR-NJ and FEMA-1867-DR-NJ were approved March 10, 2010 to reflect the appointment of William L. Vogel to replace Stephen M. DeBlasio as the FCO for the two Major Disaster Declarations. (FEMA HQ) 

Last Modified: Friday, 12-Mar-2010 07:29:18 EST