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National Situation Update: Friday, December 16, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

More Wintry Weather for Northeast

Northeast:  New England will be in store to a wintry mess on Friday. Mixed precipitation will change to rain around Boston, Providence and Hartford before ending. Areas from northwest Pennsylvania, through Upstate New York, to western and northern New England will pick up from 5 to 10 inches of snow. Heavy lake-effect snow is forecast from Lakes Erie and Ontario with Buffalo, Watertown and the northern Tug Hill Plateau. Some locations, including south metro Buffalo, are expecting one to two feet of snow by Saturday night. 

South:  Most of the South will enjoy a much quieter day on Friday, but remain chilly across the Southeast. Parts of western Texas will see light snow with a few showers in the lower Rio Grande. Over the weekend, some light snow will move from Oklahoma into the Tennessee/Ohio Valleys, while a potentially heavy rain event develops around the Gulf Coast. 

Midwest:  Wintry conditions will prevail across much of the Midwest on Friday. Snow showers and gusty winds will extend from North Dakota to the Great Lakes and eastern Ohio Valley.

West:  Stagnant air with fog and low clouds are forecast for much of Washington, northern Oregon and northern Idaho. Dense fog will redevelop in California's Central Valley Friday morning and Saturday morning. Sunshine is expected to prevail in Southern California and the Southwest. A few snow showers are expected in the Intermountain West.  (NOAA/NWS and Various Media Sources)

Icy Storm Cuts Power to 450,000 in South

Freezing rain across Georgia and the Carolinas on Thursday closed schools, snarled traffic and caused power outages to more than 450,000 customers. At least one death was blamed on the ice storm.

Ice laden tree limbs fell onto power lines causing widespread outages. While electricity was quickly restored to some, outages by early Thursday evening still totaled 260,000 in South Carolina's upstate, 113,000 in western and central North Carolina, 55,000 in northeast Georgia and 34,700 in the Atlanta area.

School systems canceled or cut short classes across north Georgia, the affected parts of the Carolinas and into western stretches of Virginia.

Mountains of North Carolina and Virginia were being hit with a hazardous mix of snow and sleet.

The National Weather Service said the freezing rain was expected to continue in the region through Thursday evening and overnight temperatures were forecast to dip into the 20s. Ice accumulations were expected to be as much as three-quarters of an inch, which could lead to more snapped limbs and power lines.

A spokesman for Duke Power said there was no timetable when power would be restored.  A warming trend Friday should help the 7,500 workers being dispatched to restore power. (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

During the last 24 hours there were a number of minor earthquakes over 3.0 magnitude in Alaska(6), and California(1).  There were no reports of casualties or damage. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs for Public Assistance are scheduled to begin December 19, 2005 for eight counties in western Minnesota, affected by a severe winter storm late last month. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)