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National Situation Update: Saturday, March 13, 2010

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
The storm system in the region has moved inland over the Intermountain West and as a result precipitation along the California coast will end this evening. Up to a foot of snow is forecast from the Cascades through the central Sierra Nevada.  Gusty winds are expected along the entire Sierra Nevada range. The precipitation will spread eastward this evening, extending from Montana to New Mexico. A front moving ashore will produce additional rain in the Pacific Northwest.

Midwest:
The storm over the eastern portion of the nation will result in rain from the Wisconsin southward to Arkansas with the heaviest precipitation over the Ohio River Valley. The region will be on a warming trend next week and records may be broken.  The high temperatures will accelerate melting of the existing snowpack.

Northeast:
A complex low pressure system will produce extensive precipitation, localized flooding, gusty winds, dangerous surf, coastal flooding, and beach erosion from the Mid-Atlantic to New England. The Mid-Atlantic will see three to four inches of rain and 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). Heavy rain falling on the snowpack in the central Appalachians will produce river and stream flooding. Higher elevations from the Catskills of New York, southern Vermont and western Massachusetts, will receive a wintry mix of freezing rain and snow. Sunday, the system will move into New England with an additional three inches of rain.

South:
The storm in the Northeast will produce gusty winds and rain showers from Mississippi to the Carolinas. (NOAA’s National Weather Service, Hydro Meteorological Prediction Center, and various media sources) 

Brush Fire on Big Island of Hawaii

 Yesterday Hawaii County reported to Hawaii State Civil Defense that they had a wildfire that spread to over 600 acres. The fire was expected to burn through the night.  High wind gust up to 40 mph were making it hard to contain the fire.  Two evacuation centers have been opened. 

  • Kawaihae Rd. from Waiaka Rd. to Queen Kaahumanu highway remains closed
  • Early reports mention that several abandoned buildings have been burnt
  • High winds, gusts up to 40 mph, are making it difficult to contain
  • People evacuated from Kawaihae Village and Kawaihae Transitional Homes. Unknown number of people
  • Hawaii County has set up two evacuation centers, one at Waimea Community Center with three occupants and the other at Waikoloa Elementary School with 10 occupants
  • Hawaii County Fire Chief Glen Honda reporting fire is not contained, but is not expanding either
  • Communities near Hapuna Gold Course had evacuated at the recommendation of fire officials (Region IX, open source) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Last Modified: Monday, 15-Mar-2010 07:48:34 EDT