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National Situation Update: Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Northeast 
Upstate New York and northern New England can expect four to eight inches of snow today.  A second area of low pressure will develop off the east coast today and bring heavy snow to New Hampshire and Maine, with accumulations of 8 to 12 inches possible.  Rain or a mix of rain and snow is likely from southern New England into New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.

Midwest 
Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect in parts of the upper Midwest as heavy snow and strong winds continue to impact the region.  A deep upper level trough of low pressure will approach the Southern Appalachians producing mountain snow from Pennsylvania, through West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.  Winter Storm Warnings will remain in effect through early Thursday.  Temperatures will be well below average across most of the Midwest and Plains, with strong northwest winds creating wind chill values below zero.

West
Strong winds are expected today through the Columbia River Gorge into Portland, Oregon. Gale Warnings will remain in effect for much of this week in the Pacific Northwest.

South 
Freezing temperatures are expected through northern Florida and Louisiana tonight.  Frost will be widespread across the Gulf Coast.  Winter storm warnings are in effect for North Carolina, with accumulating snow expected in the mountains.  Snow also possible in the mountains of Georgia. 

2007 a Top Ten Warm Year for U.S. and Globe

According to early data from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, 2007 is on track to become one of the 10 warmest years for the contiguous U.S. since national records began in 1895.  Through November 2007, 30 states have experienced above average temperatures, while 14 states experienced much above average.  Drought and unusual warmth contributed to another extremely active wildfire season, with approximately nine million acres burned through early December.  More than three-quarters of the southeast was in drought from mid-summer into December.  Increased evaporation from unusually warm temperatures, combined with a lack of precipitation, worsened drought conditions.  In the western U.S., October wildfires in southern California forced the largest evacuation in California history.  From a worldwide perspective, the global annual temperature (combined land and ocean surfaces) for 2007 is expected to be the fifth warmest since records began in 1880.  Seven of the eight warmest years on record have occurred since 2001 and the 10 warmest years have all occurred since 1997.  NOAA's preliminary data will be updated in early January to reflect the last three weeks of December and will not be considered final until next Spring, when the full analysis will be completed. (NWS-NOAA)

Red Flag Warnings

California:     Until 6:00 p.m. PST today in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas; winds 20-30    mph with gusts near 45 mph.

Texas:   From 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CST today in southeastern Texas; winds 20-25 mph.

Florida/Georgia:  From 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST today in the Florida Panhandle and
southeastern Georgia; winds 30 mph expected.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of Nebraska has requested a major disaster declaration as a result of the ice storm December 10-12, 2007.  The Governor is requesting Public Assistance for eight counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  (FEMA HQ)