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National Situation Update: Monday, December 18, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West
Showers in western Washington, mainly over the Olympic Peninsula and around Bellingham, and some snow showers in the higher elevations of the Southwest.  Generally sunny for much of California and the northern Great Basin.  Temperatures near to below seasonal averages with highs ranging from the teens around Yellowstone N. P. to the 60s in parts of Southern California, southwest Arizona and southeast New Mexico.  Readings in the 20s and 30s will dominate the Interior West.

Midwest 
A few showers will be scattered over the Ohio Valley and southern Missouri, and a snow flurry on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  The remainder of the Midwest and Plains will be dry. Highs in the upper teens will cling to Canadian border regions and from there range upward to the 60s in the Ohio Valley and Kentucky.

Northeast  
Showers will extend from Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York eastward into southern New England, but will also include West Virginia. A few snow flurries in far northern New England.   Highs are expected to range from the 30s in far northern New England to the 70s in much of Virginia. Most of southern New England will see highs in the 50s.

South    
A few showers likely in south Florida, southern Louisiana, parts of Texas, eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.  A cold front will usher cooler conditions into the southern Plains, with highs of 40s and 50s in much of Oklahoma and northwest Texas.  Most locations from southern and eastern Texas eastward to the Carolinas will experience highs well up in the 70s. A few readings in the 80s in south Texas and along the west coast of Florida.(National Weather Service, media sources)

Pacific Northwest Storm Summary

About 300,000 customers remain without power in Washington State.
41 shelters activated in WA, total reported population is 153 people.
The great majority of County EOCs in WA have closed as of this time.
The WA National Guard (WANG) is providing logistics and generator support to elder care centers and other facilities, and is preparing a generator support plan to return a wastewater treatment plant to service.
13 WANG members are currently deployed, and it is anticipated that 12 more will be deployed today.
The WANG anticipates a mission increase due to the lack of availability of commercial generation assets.
Flood warnings for the Chehalis River in western Washington.
Showers in western Washington and some snow showers in the higher elevations, but no hazardous weather forecasted.
FEMA Region X continues to monitor the situation, no request for Federal assistance at this time.  (NOAA, Region X, WA State EOC, National Guard Bureau )

NORTHCOM Update

STS-116 Shuttle Discovery Update:  The end of the mission has changed to Friday, December 22, with a first chance landing at Kennedy Space Center, FL at 5:56 pm EST.  The prime emergency landing site, if required, for Monday, December 18, at White Sands, NM with a landing time of 7:21 pm EST.  NORAD-USNORTHCOM Command Center continues to monitor and participate in daily NASA teleconferences.

Mexican Military Plane Crash:  A Mexican military plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, December 16, near Acapulco with four crew members onboard.  The aircraft, an Antonov AN-32B, was based at a military installation just south of Acapulco and was returning from a routine mission transporting troops.  The search for the crew members and the cause of the incident is ongoing.  Incident closed.   (NORTHCOM)

Tropical Weather Outlook

As of 4:00 am EST December 18, Tropical Depression (Trami) 26W, was located approximately 822 miles southeast of Naha, Okinawa, and moving northwest at 20 mph.  Winds in the area are estimated to be 35 to 46 mph. No U.S. territory will be affected.  (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

At 10:13 am EST, December 17, a 4.3 (light) magnitude earthquake was reported 41 miles west from Petrolia, California. No damage or injuries were reported.  
At 4:10 pm EST, December 17, a 5.8 (moderate) magnitude earthquake was reported 45 miles south-southwest from Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. News media reports four deaths.  No U.S. territory was affected (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Centers, media sources)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)