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National Situation Update: Sunday, February 12, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Nor’easter producing Heavy Snow in the Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast

Snow is falling from West Virginia to D.C., Philadelphia, Trenton and New York City, and eastward to the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia (Delmarva) peninsula and New Jersey Coasts and Long Island accumulations will be in the four-to-12-inch range with Long Island N.Y. receiving over one foot.

Heavy wind-driven snow will spread north reaching New Hampshire and Maine this morning. From New York City to Hartford to coastal New Hampshire and coastal Maine, eight to 12 inches of snow is possible. Rhode Island, Boston and southeast Massachusetts may see accumulations of over a foot. With strong northeasterly to northerly winds blizzard conditions are possible from New York City to eastern New England.

The snow and gusty northerly winds will be coming to an end south of New York City by this evening.

By Monday morning, the storm will move away through the Canadian Maritimes, ending the snow and gusty winds even in New England.

South: Moderate to heavy snow is falling in eastern Kentucky, the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Tennessee and the southern Appalachians. Snow will continue over the mountains with snow showers lingering over the Tennessee Valley. The mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border could receive from six to over 12 inches by Sunday. Florida could see some record cold high temperatures this morning with snow showers possible in northern Florida early Monday morning.
 
West: Offshore winds are returning to Southern California this weekend and will linger into the first part of the coming week, keeping the fire danger high.

Midwest: The Midwest will be quiet through Monday with only snow showers in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS and Various Commercial and Media Sources)

Volcano Activity

Seismic data at Alaska's Augustine volcano indicate that the new lava dome on Augustine's summit continues to grow. Seismic stations on the flanks of the volcano continue to record rockfalls and pyroclastic flows associated with small volume collapses of the lava dome. This activity is occurring at a rate similar to yesterday. The current Level of Concern Color Code remains Orange. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Tropical Activity

There are no active tropical disturbances in the Atlantic.

In the South Pacific, Tropical Cyclone (TC) 11P (Vaianu), located approximately 345 miles east of Suva, Fiji, has tracked southwestward at 7 miles per hour over the past six hours.  The system has winds of 69 mph and gusts to 86 mph and is expected to slowly increase in intensity over the next 48 hours.  Based on the current warning 11P is no threat to American Samoa.  (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No significant earthquake activity during the past 24 hours in the United States or its Territories. (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)