• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Thursday, November 3, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Snow and Rain in the Northwest - Sun in the East

West: A cold front will move into the Pacific Northwest and Northern California bringing rain, heavy mountain snows, and high winds. One to two inches of rain are forecast for areas west of the Cascades, while in the Cascades, as much as a foot of snow or more may coat the higher elevations. High winds, up to 65 mph, are expected along the southern Washington and Oregon coasts late Wednesday and into Thursday. High winds will also batter the coastal mountains and Cascades. Even in inland valleys, isolated gusts could hit 50 mph. Scattered rain showers and mountain snows will extend inland well in advance of the front, spanning Idaho and Montana and reaching southward into the Colorado Rockies. High temperatures throughout the West are forecast to range from the 30s in the northern mountains to the 80s in the lower Colorado River Valley and southwest Arizona.

Midwest: A cold front is forecast to move across the Northern Plains on Thursday bringing rain, rain/snow mix, and snow in places, especially parts of North Dakota where highs will be in the 30s-40s. Warm and windy weather is forecast for the Great Lakes area. Highs are forecast to range from the 60s in Michigan and southern Wisconsin to the low 80s in southwest Kansas.

Northeast: Generally mild weather is forecast for the Northeast for Thursday and into the weekend. Highs are expected to range from the 40s in northern Maine to the 70s in the Mid-Atlantic area. A scattering of showers is possible from the Adirondacks to northern Maine on Thursday.

South: The region will have warm temperatures and sunny weather on Thursday and into the weekend. Highs will be mostly in the 70s and 80s. Nice weather will continue through Saturday when portions of Florida and Arkansas will see the chance of showers. (NWS, Media sources)

Hurricanes Damage Coastal Marshes of Louisiana

Geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicated Wednesday that hurricanes Katrina and Rita tore up about 100 square miles of environmentally significant marsh in southeastern Louisiana. Satellite imagery shows about 60 square miles of marsh were ripped up and submerged around New Orleans, with another 40 square miles turned into open water across the state's coast. USGS officials believe the damage may exceed 100 square miles of marsh loss, however they believe it will take another growing season or two to see if the marsh areas recover.

The damage adds to Louisiana's already dire coastal land loss. The state has lost about 1,900 square miles of coastal wetlands since the 1930s due to levee building, oil and natural gas drilling and natural causes. The agency had previously estimated that the coast would lose about 650 square miles of marsh by 2050. Louisiana's marshes are a prime habitat for fish and a barrier against potential storm surges from future hurricanes. The storms inundated fresh marshes with salt water and killed marsh grasses.

USGS officials indicate it is too soon to tell how much of the open water will revert back to marshland, but the agency said it's very likely that many new lakes will form. They believe some of the larger rips will remain as permanent ponds unless sediment is put in them or some appropriate restoration project is done. (media sources)

Tropical Activity

There are no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Eastern Pacific or Central Pacific Ocean. (NHC/TPC, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No significant activity.(USDOI/USGS, National Earthquake Information Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity.(FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity.(FEMA HQ)