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National Situation Update: Monday, December 25, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Summary

South:
Across the South a Thunderstorm system will move from Mississippi to Kentucky Monday.

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible from the coastal Carolinas south to the Florida as the storm sweeps a cold front eastward toward the coast.

Snow flurries are expected to develop over parts of Tennessee, northern Mississippi and Alabama.

Northeast
Rain is forecasted over the Northeast later Monday. Temperatures ahead of the storm continue to run above-average assuring most of the region a wet, not snowy day. Any snow from this system is first limited to the highest mountain top.

Winter storm watches have been issued for parts of northern Vermont, northern New York and northwest Pennsylvania.
 
Midwest
Rain will move into the Ohio Valley Monday morning as a strong storm is expected to move into the region with possible heavy rains.

Some colder air will flow in as the storm moves out Tuesday changing the rain to snow over the northern and eastern Ohio Valley.

West
A pacific storm moves northeast as a cold front travels through the northwest Monday.

Wind-driven rains will fall west of the mountains Monday morning before becoming more showery in the afternoon.

Snow levels in the mountains range from 3000 feet in the Washington Cascades to 5500 feet in the Siskiyou and northernmost Sierra but will drop about a thousand feet by Monday making travel tricky through the passes.
 
Higher sections of interior Washington and Oregon should see some snow from this latest Pacific storm.   (Media Sources) 

Volcanoes Activity:

December 24, 2006, the Bezymianny Volcano located in Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile (Russia) became active. Current level of concern is: RED
  
A paroxysmal explosive eruption of the volcano began at 05:17 am EST on December 24 and continues at present. Large eruptive column rose up to ~ 10.0 km (32,800 ft) ASL and was transformed to big umbrella cloud. Ash plumes extended to the north-east from the volcano.

If the eruptions continue to increase in intensity and reach sufficient height it could impact air travel over Alaska. (USGS) 

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

At 09:26 am EST a earthquake of 5.1 magnitude at a depth of 58.6 miles was located 195 miles west of Adak, AK. There have been no reports of damage or injuries.  (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)