National Situation Update: Saturday, December 22, 2007
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Significant National Weather
West
Lingering snow is expected across Colorado and eastern New Mexico. A cold front will reach the Northwest, increasing rain from western Washington to northwest California. A second cold front will arrive late Sunday, December 23, 2007, and early Monday, December 24, 2007, as snow levels continue to slowly rise.
Midwest
Strong winds with snow are moving eastward out of the Rockies to the High Plains. Low pressure will grow stronger and move northward through the Plains and up through the Great Lakes. A strong cold front will sweep eastward from the Mississippi Valley this morning, December 22, 2007, to the Appalachians by midday Sunday, December 23, 2007. Rain is expected from Missouri to Wisconsin. Behind the front, colder air will quickly transition the rain into sleet and then snow. A two-to-four inch band of wind-driven snow will extend from Kansas to Minnesota. Heavier snow may set up from the Iowa-Illinois line to Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and northeast Minnesota tonight, December 22, 2007, into Sunday morning, December 23, 2007. Some accumulations could locally reach six inches. Higher winds with gusts of 35 to near 50 mph are expected to reach the Great Lakes tonight, December 22, 2007, into Sunday, December 23, 2007. Cold air from Canada over the Great Lakes will create lake-effect snow across northern Wisconsin, northern and western Michigan, northern Indiana and northeast Ohio through Sunday, December 23, 2007.
South
Most of the southeast will be dry, but a front will move rain eastward into the region overnight into early Sunday, December 23, 2007. Rainfall amounts are expected to be light. Showers and thunderstorms will increase from Oklahoma and eastern Texas to western Tennessee and Mississippi as the cold front begins to head eastward. A few thunderstorms may turn severe across parts of Louisiana and Arkansas. Some snow and gusty winds are expected across the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma.
Northeast
On Sunday, December 23, 2007, heavy rain is expected to fall across much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as temperatures rise through the 40s to even the 50s in some areas. Rapid snowmelt may result in localized and urban flooding. Rain on top of snow may create excess weight on buildings with flat roofs. Strong winds will also reach across the region. Areas around the Great Lakes will see mild temperatures, rain and wind early Sunday, December 23, 2007, followed by a rapid decline in temperature with rain changing to snow. (National Weather Service, Media Sources)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico/Eastern Pacific/Central Pacific:
No activity.
Western Pacific:
No activity impacting US interests. (NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)
Earthquake Activity
At 3:30 a.m. EST, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred in northern Alaska, 22 miles east of Deering, AK at depth was 15.5 miles. No reports of damage or injury and no tsnumai warnings were generated.
Multiple earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 3.3 to 6.1 continued in the Aleutian Islands Region, in the area of Adak, AK within the last 24 hours. No reports of damage or injury and no tsunami warnings were generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity
Amendment number four to DR-1733-OR closed the incident period for this disaster effective December 17, 2007.
Amendment number five to DR-1733-OR added Individual Assistance (IA) for one county. PA was added for two counties and two Confederated Tribes affected by the disaster.
Amendment number five to DR-1734-WA added two counties for IA.
Amendment number one to DR-1735-OK added 18 counties for PA. (FEMA Declaration Unit)
Last Modified: Monday, 24-Dec-2007 08:33:16 EST