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National Situation Update: Saturday, January 10, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
The current storm track off the Pacific will bring the bulk of its precipitation to western Canada. However, western Washington will see additional rain but much less than the recent event. Higher areas of the coastal range and the northern Cascades may pick up 1 to 3 inches of precipitation. Showers could linger over the Pacific Northwest tomorrow.  Despite this additional rain, rivers should all fall below flood stage this weekend.  High pressure over the Great Plains will produce Santa Ana winds across Southern California particularly in the mountains, canyons and passes through the weekend. Gusts will reach 60 to 80 mph in a few locations. Red Flag Warnings are in effect since strong winds and low humidity equal very high fire danger.
Midwest:
The snow around the Great Lakes and the Ohio River Valley will taper off this morning as the storm low moves eastward.  The Plains will be dry today; but, a few snow showers will move across the Upper Midwest tomorrow.
South:
A cold front will move slowly from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Southeast producing rain showers and isolated thunderstorms.
Northeast:
The storm moving out of the Midwest will produce snow spreading eastward across Pennsylvania, parts of the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.  Pennsylvania will see 5 to 12 inches of snow by early Sunday, but near Philadelphia sleet will result in lower snow depths.  Southern New York will get between 4 and 8 inches of snow by this afternoon.  Near New York City, the snow will change to sleet this evening.  Southern Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, western Maryland and the western suburbs of Washington DC will get a wintry mix of precipitation. In the area from a Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia line to the coast, the wintry mix will change to rain later today and end tonight.  Southern West Virginia, most of Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula will have just rain. Snow will continue across southern New England tonight and Sunday morning. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Pacific Northwest Flooding:

Region X RRCC activated at Level II (24/7) due to widespread flooding, excessive runoff from heavy rainfall and melting snow in the State of Washington.  Emergency Support Functions 1,2,3,6,7,9,10,11,12,15,DCO/DCE, US Coast Guard and US Geological Survey are activated.  Washington State EOC is at Full Activation (24/7).  Seventeen counties have declared a State of Emergency for flooding.  There have been no fatalities or injuries reported; however, one fatality was reported initially but was outside the incident period.  Twenty-four local shelters are open with 237 occupants.  Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams from FEMA, Washington State Emergency Management Division and the counties are assembling to assess damage.  Voluntary evacuations are in place for 10 cities with approximately 2,500 evacuees.  Limited access to Whatcom and Skagit counties remains an issue for repairs to the power system.  US 12 and US 97 are closed in both directions due to water over the roadway and washouts; no estimated time of re-opening.  Interstates 90 and 5 have re-opened.  Amtrak suspended services between Portland, OR and Seattle, WA due to mudslides; service is expected to resume following the opening of the BNSF Seattle sub-division.  BNSF Stampede sub-division (train route over mountain passes going east-west between Rainier and Ellensburg, WA) will be out of service for an undetermined amount of time due to tunnel damage.  There are 14 rivers currently above flood stage in Washington and one river in Oregon.
US Army Corps of Engineers flood fight teams are deployed to the Olympic Peninsula and to six river basins there are no unmet needs.

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1815-DR, for severe winter storms and flooding in Maine December 11-29, 2008. 7 counties are eligible for Public Assistance, including Direct Federal Assistance.  All counties in the state are eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (FEMA HQ)