National Situation Update: Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Severe Storm Threat Continues in the Midwest and Southern Plains Tuesday
Midwest/South: Severe thunderstorms are forecast on Tuesday for a large area extending from Tennessee to southern Texas. The storm system will move southward over southern Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas; reaching the Gulf Coast on Wednesday. The storms will likely produce large hail and damaging winds. An isolated tornado is possible.
The storm system will bring cooler weather to the South on Wednesday as Atlanta will see temperatures in the 60s and Charlotte, NC will have highs in the 50s.
In addition to cooler temperatures, the storm system moving towards the Gulf Coast will likely drop 1-2 inches of much needed rainfall in the Carolinas, Georgia, and northern Florida on Wednesday.
Showers and thunderstorms are also forecast on Tuesday for areas from the Missouri Valley to the Ohio Valley, eastward to the Great Lakes region.
There is a possibility of light snow in parts of central Nebraska and Kansas. The area from Utah to South Dakota will see cold weather and could receive 1-6 inches of snow.
Areas of the Midwest along the Canadian border will see dry and sunny weather on Tuesday with highs in the 60s in North Dakota and Minnesota.
West: The desert Southwest will remain very warm and dry with highs in the 80s-90s. Meanwhile, Wyoming and Colorado were hit on Monday with temperatures in the 30s along with snow and freezing rain. Wintry conditions will continue in the area from Wyoming eastward through parts of Nebraska with snow and gusty winds.
A weak storm system is forecast to produce showers in southern Oregon and northern California.
The Pacific Northwest is expected to be dry with mild temperatures.
Flood Watches are in effect along levees in California's Central Valley through much of the week.
A Flood Watch is in effect in Utah.
Northeast: The Northeast will continue to see unseasonably cool temperatures on Tuesday. Showers are forecast for a large area from the Mid-Atlantic northward to New England.
Heavy rainfall during the past weekend has improved the drought conditions in many parts of the Northeast. Fairfield County (Connecticut) received 4-8 inches during the weekend. Bridgeport (Connecticut) reported 5.3 inches of rainfall in one day. (National Weather Service, media sources)
Fire Weather Forecast
A Critical Fire Weather area is forecast for the area of southern New Mexico/far western Texas through the south Texas plains on Tuesday where temperatures will be in the 70s-80s. Windy conditions (15-25 mph) and low relative humidity (below 10-15 percent) are forecast for the early part of Tuesday in the area that has experienced long-term drought. These conditions will contribute to critical fire weather conditions.
Fire weather conditions for the area will improve later on Tuesday as temperatures are expected to become 30-40 degrees cooler. (NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center)
Tornadoes Touch Down in Central Oklahoma - No Injuries Reported
A powerful storm system spawned at least two tornadoes and several severe thunderstorms, causing damage in central and northeastern areas of the state Monday, authorities said.
West of Oklahoma City, two tornadoes tore through sparsely populated areas of Canadian County, damaging hangars at the municipal airport south of El Reno
Near Tulsa, a storm toppled trees and damaged at least one house, a mobile home and an auto dealership as it moved through around 1 p.m.
Some 2,618 Oklahoma Gas & Electric customers and between 3,000 and 4,000 American Electric Power/Public Service Company (AEP-PSO) customers lost electric power at the height of the storms. Service had been restored to all but 1,200 AEP-PSO customers by 8 p.m., officials said.
Widespread Flooding in U. S. During Past Week
Flooding affected 28 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Much of Puerto Rico saw flooding on Friday and Saturday, with some areas experiencing residential flooding and mudslides.
Widespread low land, small stream and urban flooding affected parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana on Friday.
In the greater Washington area, localized heavy rain (some reports of 3 inches or more) and flash flooding (including urban street flooding) was reported Saturday afternoon and evening in Allegany, Montgomery and Baltimore Counties in Maryland and Fauquier, Culpeper, Prince William and Fairfax Counties in Virginia.
On Sunday, as much as 6 inches of rain caused significant flooding in Connecticut and southeastern New York.
Rain and snowmelt continues to cause flooding along several rivers in the northern Rockies, with major flooding in northern Nevada along the Humboldt and Bruneau Rivers. (NOAA/NWS Hydrologic Information Center)
Tropical Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Apr-2006 08:07:58 EDT