National Situation Update: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Significant National Weather
Midwest:
Bitter cold and very low wind chills are expected today across much of the Midwest. High temperatures will range from 10-15 degrees below zero over northeast North Dakota and far west Minnesota to the teens in the Great Lakes. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for Upper Michigan until 5:00 p.m. today and a Winter Storm Warning is in effect today for lower Michigan.
Northeast:
A cold front pushing eastward overnight Tuesday will continue to bring very strong winds to much of the eastern United States today. High temperatures will range from the 20s in western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to the 50s in eastern Virginia.
South:
Skies are expected to clear in the south today, but colder temperatures and gusty winds are forecast for much of the region by this afternoon. Another low pressure system is expected to develop across the southern Plains and Texas by Friday.
West:
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 6:00 p.m. tonight for the Willapa Hills and north and central Oregon Coast Range. A High Wind Warning remains in effect today for the mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and the Antelope Valley. A new storm system bringing bitterly cold temperatures will push into the Pacific Northwest tonight. (NWS, Media Sources, NICC)
Texas and Arkansas Fires
Texas:
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph fanned fires in several counties and caused power outages for thousands of customers. Fires have consumed large amounts of acreage in Hays and Denton Counties and destroyed five homes in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. A fire in Duval County has consumed 7,500 acres and threatened multiple structures. At least 40,000 customers in Dallas County are without power. Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport experienced significant flight delays as a result of 50 mph crosswinds that prevented the use of four of the airport's seven runways. Numerous Fire Departments have responded. Four minor injuries reported when a fire engine collided with a semi. No deaths have been reported. The Texas Guard is providing three light fire suppression packages. There has been no request for Federal Assistance.
Arkansas:
A front moved through Arkansas Tuesday creating high winds that resulted in downed trees and power lines and ignited numerous small fires across the state. One fire resulted in damage to 150 buildings at Ft. Chaffee in Sebastian County. Arkansas EOC has been activated to Level III. One fatality has been reported in Faulkner County. There has been no request for Federal Assistance. (FEMA Region VI, AR EOC, TX EOC, NICC)
Midwest Flooding Update
Indiana:
A flood warning continues for the Kankakee River at Davis affecting La Porte, Starke, and St. Joseph Counties until Saturday afternoon. The river level is forecast to begin falling today (from approximately 10.7 feet) and fall below flood stage by Friday (flood stage 10 feet)
Illinois:
A flood warning continues for the Rock River near Joslin, Illinois. Forecast flooding increased from minor to moderate and river levels are expected to continue rising to near 14.1 feet by Thursday evening (flood stage is 12.0 feet).
Wisconsin:
A Flood Warning remains in effect until Friday for the Rock River at Afton, WI. Ice jamming between Beloit and Afton continues to produce flooding in the Afton area south through Beloit Township. (FEMA Region V, NWS)
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
On Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. EST, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred about 255 miles west of Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia, and 255 miles south of Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia. No damages or injuries have been reported and no Tsunami warnings generated. (USGS)
Preliminary Damage Assessments
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Last Modified: Wednesday, 30-Jan-2008 07:53:47 EST