FEMA: National Situation Updates

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West:
A Pacific storm along the California coast will produce light to moderate rain and mountain snow throughout the morning. Winds are expected to increase in intensity throughout the day, with gusts reaching 70 mph tonight. A High Wind Warning is in effect through this evening. Moisture associated with this system will move northward along the coast into the Pacific Northwest tonight. A weak storm system will move slowly across northern Colorado producing accumulations of 2-6 inches of snow.

Midwest:
Light rain and snow is expected throughout the day in portions of the Central Plains. The rain and freezing drizzle over portions of Nebraska, Kansas and southern Missouri will spread into parts of the southern Ohio and Tennessee Valleys later in the day. Temperatures in the Central Plains will be 10 to 20 degrees below average.

South:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue over parts of the eastern Florida coast through Wednesday morning. Light snow is expected across eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas late tonight. Accumulations of 1-3 inches are possible. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average for the Southern Plains.

Northeast:
Showers are possible over portions of the Mid-Atlantic; severe storms are not expected.

Space Weather:

Space weather during the past 24 hours has been minor, with radio blackouts reaching the R1 level. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

Northeast:
Showers are possible over portions of the Mid-Atlantic; severe storms are not expected.
(NOAA, National Weather Service and media sources)

Space Weather:

Space weather during the past 24 hours has been minor, with radio blackouts reaching the R1 level. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours. (SWPC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Monday, February 6, 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West:
Snow showers will target the Rockies and parts of the Northern and Central Plains today. Air stagnation and some fog will continue east of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon. With pockets of below average temperatures from western Montana and eastern Colorado but above average temperatures nearer to the West Coast, highs will range from the 20s and 30s in Montana and Wyoming to the 60s and low 70s in the lower elevations of California and the deserts. On Tuesday, rain and mountain snow will move into California, while very light snow lingers in Wyoming, Colorado and northern New Mexico.

Midwest:
A few snow flurries may develop from the Plains to the northern Great Lakes. With temperatures from near average to 17 degrees above average, highs will range from the 20s and 30s in North Dakota and northern Minnesota to the 50s from Kansas to Ohio Valley. On Tuesday, very light snow showers will extend from the central Plains to Great Lakes, with accumulations of up to an inch possible.

South:
Today will be dry for most of the region, with a few showers lingering in the southern Appalachians. Showers and thunderstorms are expected across much of the Florida Peninsula, and a few showers will linger in southeast Texas. Light rain will develop over portions of coastal North Carolina overnight tonight into Tuesday morning. With temperatures below average in south Texas but average to 10 degrees above average over the remainder of the region, highs will range from the 50s north to the 70s and near 80 degrees in Florida.

Northeast:
Snow showers will develop today across northern New York and northern New England, and a few snow showers may linger in southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia. With temperatures from near average to 15 degrees above average, highs will range from the 30s and 40s near the Canadian border to the 40s and 50s around the Mid-Atlantic. (NOAA, National Weather Service and media sources)

Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed over the past 24 hours and no space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Caribbean:
The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Outlook for Invest 90L located just west of the western tip of Florida.

Invest 90L is gradually becoming better organized and associated shower activity has been slowly increasing as it moves northeast towards southwest Florida.
There is a 30% (medium) chance of this system becoming a subtropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves toward the north-northeast and northeast at 10-15 mph. Regardless of development, this system will likely bring locally heavy rainfall to portions of southern Florida over the next couple of days. On Monday afternoon or evening, the storm will merge with a cold front and move over South Florida, bringing heavy rains of 1-2 inches and sustained winds of 20-25 mph.

Earthquake Activity

U.S. – No significant activity.
International – On Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:49 p.m. EST, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred in the Negros – Cebu Region of the Philippines, approximately 49 miles west-southwest of Cebu, Cebu, and 353 miles south-southeast of Manila at a depth of 12.4 miles. Media reports are estimating between 5 and 13 fatalities near Guihulngan (numbers not confirmed through official sources). An estimated 30 homes have reportedly been buried in Guihulngan and roads and bridges have also reportedly been damaged.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Friday, February 3, 2012

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West:
A Pacific storm system is forecast to bring winter weather to the Rockies and Great Plains beginning later today and extending through the week. Tonight moderate amounts of snow, as much as 6-12 inches, will impact portions of Utah, western Wyoming and the central Colorado mountains. Strong winds east of Denver, over the Plains, could cause significant blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions possible on Friday.

Midwest:
Warm temperatures are forecast to continue for the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys, extending into the North Central U.S. into Saturday. Some rain and thunderstorms will move into portions of Texas, Oklahoma and eastern Kansas late in the afternoon; heavier rain and a few thunderstorms will develop tonight. A strong storm developing over the Plains will bring the threat of locally heavy snowfall across northwestern Kansas and Nebraska tonight through early Saturday. Along with the snow some heavy rain and even a few severe thunderstorms will threaten portions of Kansas tonight and Friday.

South:
A few isolated showers and storms are possible along the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Texas. Precipitation will likely exit the coast of North Carolina early in the day while the remainder of the Southeast is expected to remain dry. February temperatures are expected to remain mild across the Southern Plains. Red Flag warnings remain in effect across portions of southern New Mexico and south west Texas.

Northeast:
Rain showers will bring slight moisture to the Mid Atlantic states as a storm slowly moves off the coast; mostly cloudy and drier weather will prevail by the afternoon. Extremely warm conditions will come to an end across the Northeast as cooler air begins to arrive from Canada. Temperatures will reach into the teens and 20s across northern New England and northern New York; milder temperatures will extend from southern New England through the Mid-Atlantic States.

Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed over the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.

Heightened Activity at Cleveland Volcano, Alaska:

Renewed eruptive activity of the Cleveland Volcano has been observed by satellite, prompting the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) to elevate the Aviation Color Code from Yellow to Orange (Alert Level: Watch). Orange is the second highest warning level in the four-color alert system, and indicates that the Cleveland Volcano is exhibiting “heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption”. The Cleveland Volcano is located along the east central Aleutians, about 940 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.

As of Monday, January 30, a new lava dome approximately 130 feet in diameter was observed in the summit crater. No ash emissions or explosive activity have been observed; however, it is possible for intermittent, sudden explosions of blocks and ash to occur at any time, and ash clouds exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level may develop. Minor eruptions and associated ash clouds of 15,000 feet occurred December 25 and 29, 2011. The most significant recent eruption took place in 2001, sending ash clouds as high as 39,000 feet. Hundreds of commercial flights and approximately 90 percent of air freight from Asia to Europe and North America that overfly Alaska could be impacted by an explosive, ash-producing event.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4052-DR-Alabama
Signed February 1, 2012, for the State of Alabama for Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding that occurred January 22-23, 2012. Individual Assistance is designated for Chilton and Jefferson Counties, and all counties in the State of Alabama are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4053-DR-Utah
Signed February 1, 2012, for the State of Utah for a Severe Storm that occurred November 30 to December 1, 2011. Public Assistance is designated for Davis County, and all counties in the State of Utah are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Amendment # 5 to Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4042-DR-Virginia
Effective February 1, 2012, the amendment adds Albemarle and King George Counties for Individual Assistance.

Amendment #13 to Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4029-DR-Texas
Effective February 1, 2012, the amendment adds Bosque County for Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance; Caldwell, Fayette and Grimes counties for emergency protective measures [Category B], including directed federal assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); and 26 counties for emergency protective measures [Category B], including direct federal assistance.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed over the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.

Heightened Activity at Cleveland Volcano, Alaska

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4053-DR-Utah`
Signed February 1, 2012, for the State of Utah for a Severe Storm that occurred November 30 to December 1, 2011. Public Assistance is designated for Davis County, and all counties in the State of Utah are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Amendment # 5 to Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4042-DR-Virginia
Effective February 1, 2012, the amendment adds Albemarle and King George Counties for Individual Assistance.

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West:
Rain and high elevation snow is expected across the Pacific Northwest and northern California. The system is expected to move to the east-southeast, reaching the Northern and Central Rockies by Thursday.

Midwest:
Skies will be mostly sunny across the Plains, with temperatures 15-20 degrees above average in most areas. A few light rain showers are possible across portions of Kentucky and Ohio. Late Thursday, snow will begin to increase across the Plains, from South Dakota to Kansas.

South:
Thunderstorms with locally heavy rain are possible today from the central Gulf coast northeastward to the southern Appalachians. Rain is expected to be light to moderate over most areas, with some heavy rain possible near the Appalachians. A threat for severe weather will exist across portions of the Southern Plains by late Thursday, as the system impacting the Rockies pushes east and begins to encounter increasing amounts of Gulf moisture.

Northeast:
Wintry precipitation is expected to continue today over northern New England. Sleet and freezing rain will be likely over central New England, and northern Maine will see mostly snow.

Space Weather:

Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West:
A complex series of disturbances will produce rain and snow across the Pacific Northwest tonight. Precipitation will continue overnight with total accumulations of 6-11 inches of snow possible by Wednesday morning.

Midwest:
A change in temperature, from cold to mild, will overspread the region today as a strong warm front spreads eastward from the Northern Plains. Tonight, light rain will develop along the front from the Mid Mississippi Valley into the Midwest. Runoff from the Jan. 19 snowstorm in Montana has produced elevated river levels along the Missouri River in North Dakota. The River is nearing Minor Flood Stage. Impacts are expected to be primarily confined to agricultural areas.

South:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will spread eastward into the Central Gulf Coast this afternoon. This system could produce isolated very heavy rain from southern Louisiana to the Panhandle of Florida.

Northeast:
A mix of rain, snow and freezing rain will move into New England today, and depart by Wednesday evening. Widespread showers and high elevation snow is expected in portions of Maine. Accumulations of 4-8 inches of snow are possible by Wednesday morning. (NOAA, National Weather Service and media sources)

Space Weather:

Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 levels are expected. (SWPC)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

At 6:39 p.m. EST Jan. 30, 2012, a magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred 6 miles east of Mineral, Va., at a depth of 1.9 miles. The quake is considered an aftershock of the M5.8 that occurred August 2011 near the same location. No damages or injuries were reported. No requests for assistance have been received or are expected. The North Anna Nuclear Plant declared an Unusual Event (UE) due to the earthquake. An inspection of the plant was completed and the UE was closed at 12:35 a.m. EST this morning. No damages were reported at the plant and both units are running at 100% power. (USGS)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are currently underway in Alabama. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)