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National Situation Update: Thursday, January 1, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
Another powerful storm will hit the Pacific Northwest today producing high winds, heavy rain and mountain snow.  The strongest winds are forecast in Oregon with 35 to 45 mph by this afternoon and gusts to 70 mph are possible tonight.  In southern Idaho, sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph are forecast from this afternoon to tomorrow afternoon. The heaviest rain, more than three inches, is expected in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, rivers will be on the rise and localized flooding is possible.  Heavy snow will fall in the mountains of northeast Washington, Idaho, western Montana and western Wyoming.  Additional accumulations of one to two feet are forecast for the Olympics and Cascades where snow levels will vary from 2000 feet in the northern Washington Cascades this morning to 6000 feet in the northern Oregon Cascades tonight.  Under a high pressure ridge, expect sunshine from Southern California to New Mexico tomorrow.
Midwest:
A low pressure system moving along the border towards the Great Lakes will produce light snow and snow showers across the Upper Midwest.  Accumulations will be minimal, only an inch or two in northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and lower Michigan.
South:
Under a large high pressure area, the region will be dry except an isolated shower across the southern half of the Florida Peninsula and in the Texas coastal plain.
Northeast:
With the low pressure system off the Canadian Maritime's, the region will be dry except for a few snow flurries or isolated light snow showers in northern New England and Cape Cod.  The tight pressure gradient and northerly wind flow will result in cold and windy conditions for New England. (NOAA, NWS and Media Sources)

Midwest Flooding Update

Last weekend's thunderstorms and heavy rain, combined with ice melt, led to stream and river flooding over a large portion of the Midwest.  Flooding continues or is forecast for numerous rivers in Illinois, Michigan and northwest Indiana.

Michigan: Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison reported there are less than 30,000 customers without power. There is one shelter open with a population of 14.  No requests for Federal assistance are anticipated. (NOAA, NWS, Region V, DOE)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
No activity affecting United States territories. (NOAA, HPC,  National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

The swarm of small earthquakes continues in and around Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho). (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)