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National Situation Update: Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Winter Storms Moving Into The Southern and Central U.S.

Midwest:    
A strong cold front moving out of the Great Plains and into the Midwest is bringing an end to warm weather and a return of winter-like conditions.

Rain is expected to change over to a wintry mix along I-35 from Wichita to Kansas City to Des Moines.

Before the cold air arrives in parts of Missouri, there is a chance of strong thunderstorms.

East of the Mississippi River, temperatures are expected to remain mild for today before beginning to cool down Thursday.

The weather system from the west will move eastward and spreads the chance of snow onto the Midwest and thunderstorms into the Tennessee Valley on Thursday.

South:    
Ahead of the front from Texas through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the southeastern half of Missouri, strong thunderstorms are possible before the frontal passage. After the front moves through, wintry precipitation is possible.

Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa could see strong thunderstorms later in the day and into this evening, and then icy conditions early on Thursday.

The Southern Plains and in the Red River Valley of Texas and Oklahoma there is the possibility of strong thunderstorms this evening changing to freezing rain or sleet by Thursday morning.

By contrast, parts of the Southeast will remain mild through Thursday before transitioning back to below average temperatures by Friday.

West:   
In the West, record cold continues to dominate the northern Rockies.

In the Wasatch Mountains of Utah and the Rockies of Colorado, snow continues to dominate.

In Southern California, strong winds and dry conditions are raising the threat of fires with red flag warnings in effect for areas near Los Angeles and San Diego.

Northeast:  
The only precipitation found is across parts of Maine and northern New Hampshire.

Mild temperatures are expected over the Northeast through the rest of the work week before the arrival of colder temperatures by the weekend.

Boston is expected to be in the 60s through Thursday.   (National Weather Service, FEMA Region VI, Media Reports)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Thursday.

Central and Eastern Pacific:
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Thursday.

Western Pacific:
Typhoon Durian has moved past U.S. territories and poses no threat to U.S. interests. Tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Thursday.(NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)