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National Situation Update: Friday, January 9, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A building ridge along the west coast is the beginning of a drier pattern over the region. Weather conditions will improve and flood waters will continue to recede.  A frontal system will produce snow from Montana down through Utah and Colorado with gusty winds in the Front Range.  A building surface high over the Great Basin will produce moderate Santa Ana winds over Southern California by late afternoon and continuing through the weekend.
Midwest:
A developing surface low pressure over the Central and Northern Plains will support an axis of heavy snow (4 to 6 inches) from the Northern Plains eastward into the upper Mississippi Valley spreading eastward into the lower Great Lakes region and northern mid Atlantic region tonight into Saturday.
To the south of this area of heavy snow, an area of accumulating ice is possible in the upper Ohio River Valley eastward through portions of the central Appalachians and into the mid Atlantic.
South:
Under a large surface high pressure system, the region will be dry except for a few showers around the Ozarks with mild temperatures.  Increasing gulf moisture ahead of the trailing cold front will support increasing showers and thunderstorms tomorrow from the Ohio River Valley through the Tennessee River Valley and into the southeast.
Northeast:
Most of the northeast will be dry except for snow showers east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The storm system moving out of the Midwest will spread snow across northern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, southern and central New York and southern New England Saturday. Some locations could see over 6 inches of snow. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Pacific Northwest Flooding:

Region X RRCC activated at Level II (24/7) due to widespread flooding, excessive runoff from heavy rainfall and melting snow in the State of Washington.  ESF's 1,2,3,6,7,9,10,11,15,DCO/DCE, US Coast Guard and US Geological Survey are activated in support of Region X RRCC.  Washington State EOC remains at Full Activation (24/7).  Seventeen counties have declared a State of Emergency.  Twenty-seven local shelters open with 264 occupants.  Voluntary evacuations are in place for 5 cities and there are approximately 2,500 evacuees.  Several hundred residences are without power in Olympia and due to road closures, crews are unable to respond.  Approximately 75 miles of Interstate 90 is closed from North Bend to Ellensburg.  Interstate 5 is closed at Chehalis (south of Seattle) but is expected to reopen January 12.   The closure impacts WA State Route 530 which connects Interstate 5 to the cities of Arlington and Rockport.  Three major East-West mountain pass highways through the Cascade Mountains remain closed.  Amtrak has suspended services between Portland, OR and Seattle, WA due to mudslides.  Twenty rivers are currently under a flood warning.  US Army Corps of Engineers flood fight teams are deployed to the Olympic Peninsula and to 6 river basins.  (Region X)

Colorado "Olde Stage" Wildfire - Boulder County:

Approximately 1,400 acres have burned and is 30% contained.  Two residences and several outbuildings have been destroyed with one residence damaged.  All evacuations have been lifted and US 36 is now open to traffic.  Olde Stage Evacuation Area has been re-opened allowing all residents to return.  There are no fatalities; however, three injuries have been reported.  (Region VIII)

Fire Management Assistance Grant

No activity.(FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
There are no current tropical cyclone warnings. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

On Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 10:49 pm EST an earthquake measuring 4.5 occurred 1 mile south of San Bernardino, CA at a depth of 8.6 miles.  There were no reports of damage or injuries. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Mayor of the District of Columbia is requesting an Emergency Declaration for the emergency actions taken in support of the Presidential Inauguration during the period January 17-21, 2009. The Mayor is requesting emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program. The Mayor is also requesting 100% Federal funding. (FEMA HQ)