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National Situation Update: Thursday, February 23, 2006

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Cold Weather is Forecast for the East Coast of U.S.

The northern jet stream is expected to bring colder weather to most of the Eastern U.S. by the weekend. The jet stream, bringing a cold air mass from Canada, will dip into the Midwest on Thursday and reach the Northeast by Friday. The cold and windy air mass will continue moving southward into the Southeast by early next week.

Northeast: There will be some snow (maximum 2 inches) and light rain in much of the Northeast on Thursday. National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia issued a dense fog alert for the DC metropolitan area through 9:00 pm Thursday. Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland are expected to be dry today. Highs will range from the 30s in New England to the 50s in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Midwest: The Canadian air mass will move into the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes area today bringing very cold, windy weather accompanied by light snow showers. Highs will range from the teens in North Dakota and Minnesota to the 50s in the area from Kansas to Kentucky.

South: Light rainfall is expected in the Southeast until noontime today. The Southwest will see dry, sunny weather. Highs in the region will be mostly in the 50s-60s with some 70s-80s in southern Texas and Florida.

West: Western Washington and Oregon will see additional rain showers today. Additional snow is forecast for the higher elevations in the Pacific Northwest. Dry and sunny weather will predominate in the southwest. Highs will range from the 20s in Montana to the 70s in southern California and the desert Southwest. (NOAA/NWS and Various Commercial and Media Sources)

Volcano Activity

Alaska's Augustine volcano remains at the Current Level of Concern Color Code: ORANGE (volcano is in eruption or eruption may occur at any time). Rock falls and avalanches from the lava dome continue to be recorded by Alaska Volcano Observatory seismic stations. (United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Volcano Observatory)

Tropical Activity

There are no active tropical disturbances in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. (USDOC/NOAA/NWS, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

No major earthquake activity affecting U.S. interests to report during the previous 24 hours.(United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program).

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity to report (FEMA HQ)