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National Situation Update: Saturday, January 3, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Some mountain snow and colder temperatures will move across the northern mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, and affect much of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming this weekend. The Pacific Northwest is forecast for a brief respite from wet and windy storms today. A new storm is expected later on Sunday, bringing strong winds, rain, and mountain snow to western Washington and western Oregon.

Midwest
Snow will move quickly eastward, from the northern Plains to the northern Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes as an area of low pressure moves from the central Plains to the Corn Belt. Snowfall in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin could be in the four to twelve inch range by late evening, with higher amounts closer to Lake Superior due to some lake enhancement. Patches of sleet and freezing rain are possible from eastern Nebraska to southwest Wisconsin. Showers will develop northward into the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys during the afternoon. On Sunday, a cold front will continue eastward into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley with snow in the Upper Midwest, a wintry mix in southeast Wisconsin and Lower Michigan, freezing rain changing to rain in the southern Great Lakes and rain in the Ohio Valley.

South
Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes, are forecast from eastern Texas to southwest Alabama. On Sunday, showers will shift eastward from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Southeast.

Northeast
Much of the Northeast will be dry, but winds with gusts exceeding 30 mph are expected across New England. By Sunday light sleet and light freezing rain is forecast across central and northern Pennsylvania and southern Upstate New York, with light rain from the New York City area to coastal Virginia. (NOAA, NWS and Media Sources)

Pacific Storm Impacts Northwest Oregon and Washington

On Thursday through early Friday, January 1 and 2, a very strong Pacific storm brought rainfall of two to five inches, locally over seven inches, across northwestern Oregon. Flooding occurred on at least four rivers, including the highly urban Johnson Creek through eastern Portland. Very strong winds also occurred with this system, with gusts as high as 82 mph reported along the coast, and 60 to 65 mph in the Cascades. Mudslides and plugged storm drains caused road closures throughout the area, and voluntary evacuations in several Oregon communities. Estacada, Oregon's wastewater treatment will be out of commission for two weeks because the flood submerged the plant's 11 pumps.

Up to two feet of snow fell in the Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington, with up to six inches of snow in the lower elevations around Puget Sound in Washington, causing collapsing roofs and temporary closure of three major mountain passes.

Oregon State EOC remains at Level 1: Standby Activation; the EOC is coordinating county-wide shelter requests with the American Red Cross (ARC) to staff shelters. The Washington State EMD remains at Phase 2: Enhanced Operations for Severe Winter Storms.(NOAA, NWS, Region X, and media sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
No activity is forecast that affects 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).  269 earthquakes have occurred since Dec 27, 2008 ranging in magnitude from 1.0 to 3.9. This area typically experiences 5 earthquakes a day; however, the average increased to as many as 50 per day during this period. There were 18 earthquakes recorded yesterday, January 2.  (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

New Hampshire: On January 2, the President signed major disaster declaration FEMA-1812-DR for the State of New Hampshire for severe winter storms that occurred December 11, 2008 and continuing. The declaration designates Public Assistance for Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan counties, including Direct Federal Assistance and Hazard Mitigation statewide. The FCO is James N. Russo of the National FCO Program. 

New York: On January 2, the Governor of New York requested a major disaster declaration as a result of an ice storm beginning on December 11, 2008, and continuing.  The Governor requested Public Assistance Categories A, B, C, F, and G for 16 counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Direct Federal assistance was also requested.

Maine: On January 2, the Governor of Maine requested a major disaster declaration as a result of a severe winter storm; significant icing, high winds, blowing and drifting snow, and coastal flooding that occurred December 11-29, 2008. The Governor requested Public Assistance, including direct Federal assistance, for the counties of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York; and Hazard Mitigation statewide.  (FEMA HQ)