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National Situation Update: Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

West: High pressure over much of the west has produced dense fog and poor air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Valley, and interior sections of the Northwest. There will be little change to this weather pattern for the next few days. Skies will be partly cloudy in the Southwest, Great Basin, and Rockies with a few snow showers for parts of Montana.

Midwest: Two low pressure systems are draped across the nation's midsection. The northern system will produce one to three inches of snow in parts of the Dakotas, Iowa, and Minnesota. By afternoon snow will spread across Wisconsin and northern Illinois. By tonight snow will move into Michigan. In the Ohio Valley expect snow mixed with rain.

South: The southern low pressure system will produce rain in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee during the morning. The band of precipitation will move steadily eastward throughout the day. A few thunderstorms are possible along the Gulf Coast. On Thursday this rain will move into colder air across the Carolina Piedmont, and produce a wintry mix.

Northeast: Another cold morning, low temperatures will be in the single digits with little warm-up forecast despite sunny skies. On Thursday and Friday the storm system moving in from the South will bring a wintry mix to the region. (NOAA/NWS and Various Media Sources)

Tropical Activity

There is no tropical activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Pacific. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1:01 a.m. EST, Wednesday, December 14, 2005. The quake was centered at 51.1N 177.8W in the Aleutian Islands 1,268 miles west southwest of Anchorage Alaska at a depth of 48 miles. The magnitude was such that a tsunami will not be generated.  There have been no reports of damages or injuries and no requests for Federal assistance. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Wildfire Update

No significant activity has been reported.  (USDA/USFS and the NIAFC and USDOC/NOAA/NWS/SPC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1617-KY will close on December 21, 2005.  (FEMA HQ)