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National Situation Update: Thursday, December 22, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

Northeast:  Lake-effect snow should be coming to an end. Temperatures will begin to moderate today and they begin to surpass seasonal averages by late week. Highs in the teens for Northern New England and 20s and 30s for the rest of the Northeast will rise through Christmas Day. The area should remain dry through early Friday, when a southern Canadian system draws near.

Midwest:  An impressive ridge over the western half of the country intrudes on the Midwest today. Conditions will create high temperatures some 10 to 20 degrees above average. That translates to highs in the 30s and 40s for the Northern and Central Plains and 60s for Texas. A developing system in central Canada will be making its way into the region later today, but does not come in full force until Friday. Just enough cold air seeps into the region, expect a mix of wintry precipitation from the Dakotas to Lake Michigan. When the real push of cold air is arrives on Saturday, the precipitation turns to snow. Even with the shot of wintry weather, temperatures are expected to remain well above average through the holiday weekend.

South:  Temperatures will rebound into the 50s for most of the Deep South today. These expected highs are representative of average highs for the date. Most of Florida, however, will remain below average for the day as the highs in Tampa and Orlando will only reach into the low 60s and Miami will hover around 70. Temperatures are expected to hover in this range through the weekend as a combination of mild Pacific and Gulf air seeps into the region. Precipitation in the region is practically non-existent until Saturday when a developing system could bring showers to the lower Mississippi River Valley.

West:  The third Pacific system this week has been racing onshore throughout the day Wednesday. Precipitation fell all evening and will continue throughout the weekend as two more waves make their way onshore before Christmas. In between systems, persistent onshore flow will keep the moisture flow steady over Seattle, Portland and Coos Bay, Rain in the lower elevations, snow for the Cascades and the potential for freezing rain in the valleys will plague travel across Washington, Oregon, and Northern California Thursday. On the upside, temperatures across the Great Basin and Plains will remain well above average for some time as a strong ridge holds in place through the end of the week.   (Source: NOAA/NWS and various media outlets)

Pacific Northwest deals with third storm

With Snow above 4,000 feet, winds up to 40 mph, rain showers along the coast and waves up to 20 feet the Pacific Northwest experienced the third storm in a week.

Two more storms will move across the area throughout the weekend making their way onshore before Christmas. (Source: Media outlets)

Hurricane Katrina downgraded to Category 3

The National Hurricane Center report of December 20, 2005 states, "Katrina was an extraordinarily powerful and deadly hurricane that carved a wide swath of catastrophic damage and inflicted large loss of life. It was the costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes to ever strike the United States. Katrina first caused fatalities and damage in southern Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. After reaching Category 5 intensity over the central Gulf of Mexico, Katrina weakened to Category 3 before making landfall on the northern Gulf coast. Even so, the damage and loss of life inflicted by this massive hurricane in Louisiana and Mississippi were staggering, with significant effects extending into the Florida panhandle, Georgia, and Alabama. Considering the scope of its impacts, Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters in United States history."   The full report is available at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL122005_Katrina.pdf  (Source:  National Hurricane Center and NOAA)

Tropical Activity

There is no tropical activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Pacific.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is tracking TC 07B and has issued a final warning for this system. This system does not pose a threat to US interests. (Source: USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center,  and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No major earthquakes were recorded during the last 24 hours.  (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)