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National Situation Update: Sunday, April 23, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West:  Snow or a rain/snow mix is forecast over much of Montana and northern Wyoming Sunday. Parts of southwest and south-central Montana and the mountains just west of Sheridan, Wyoming, could accumulate up to a foot of snow. Showers and higher elevation snow showers will dot the Sierra, the Nevada Great Basin, southeast Oregon, southern Idaho, northwest Utah and southern Wyoming. Sunday night and Monday, the cold plunge will continue southward through the remainder of Wyoming and both central and eastern Colorado. The snow will shift southward across Wyoming and north-central Colorado with a raw blustery rain over Colorado's eastern Plains including Denver. The Pacific Northwest will be dry and mild both Sunday and Monday, showers will return on Tuesday. 

Midwest:  A strong showery cold front will push into the Dakotas Sunday.  Severe thunderstorms are predicted from southwest Nebraska and Kansas to the western parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. Hail, tornadoes and damaging winds are all possible. From Kansas, severe storm cells may unite Sunday night and head for the mid-Mississippi Valley early Monday with damaging winds and torrential rain. Rain and wet snow will move into the High Plains as showers move into the Great Lakes.

Northeast:  The slow-moving storm that brought massive snow to western South Dakota last Tuesday and Wednesday will finally trek through the Northeast Sunday and Monday. Heavy inch-plus rains from out of the Hudson Valley and eastern Mid-Atlantic will creep across Vermont, New Hampshire and southern New England Sunday and Maine Monday, accompanied by daytime temperatures in the 40s and lower 50s. Behind the main rain band, showers and a few thundershowers will still dot the region. Much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic has been dry this spring so this rain is welcome. On Tuesday, a strong windy cold front will arrive with still more showers.
 
South:  Although most of the South will be dry Sunday and Monday, some strong thunderstorms could pop along and south of the warm front into northeast Oklahoma, northern Arkansas, Tennessee and western North Carolina. By Monday a few severe thunderstorms may erupt southward to the Ark-La-Tex and central Texas. On Tuesday, much cooler air will plunge southward through Oklahoma and much of Texas. The cold front will have a slower time pushing southward through the Tennessee Valley and North Carolina. Strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall will extend from northeast Texas to North Carolina.  (National Weather Service, media sources)

Gas Explosion in Fort Worth, Texas

A natural gas well explosion in a suburban enclave Saturday killed one person and forced the evacuation of 500 homes as vapors spewed from a broken line.  The unidentified victim was one of four workers who were at the well when the explosion happened around 7:45 a.m. No other injuries were reported.

Residents began returning to their homes shortly after the gas line was sealed, about eight hours after the explosion. A steady wind helped dissipate the gas as it leaked and kept the air quality in good condition.

Authorities said the explosion was caused by a pressure release and did not involve a fire.

The well was operated by Fort Worth-based XTO Energy. The blast happened while workers were preparing the well for gas to be pumped out. 

Police and fire officials went door-to-door to help evacuate residents within a half-mile of the well. The Forest Hill Community Center served as a temporary shelter.  (media sources)

Tropical Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

PDAs will begin on Monday, April 24 in the California counties affected by heavy rain storms and flooding during the past several days.

PDAs will begin in South Dakota on Tuesday, April 25.

PDAs are scheduled to begin on Monday, May 1 in the North Dakota counties affected by recent flooding.  (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)