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National Situation Update: Thursday, November 6, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
Blizzard conditions are forecast for the western and central Dakotas. Flood warnings and watches are in effect for portions of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Rain and thunderstorms are forecast from the Upper Midwest southward through the Mississippi Valley.
Wind-blown rain and snow showers are expected in Nebraska and northwest Kansas.

South
Thunderstorms and showers are forecast from the Lower Ohio and Mississippi Valleys southward to the upper Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts. A few severe storms are possible in parts of Texas and Louisiana, southeast Arkansas, and western Mississippi.

Northeast
Wet, breezy conditions are forecast for New England as a result of a weakening offshore storm. A few showers are possible from eastern New York state southward through eastern Virginia. Heaviest rain should fall in eastern New England.

West
Wet weather will prevail for the Pacific Northwest and far northwest California as a strong warm front moves inland. Rainfall will be particularly heavy in the Olympics.  Flood watches are posted for portions of Washington and northern Cascades through Friday.

Weak Santa Ana winds across Southern California increases the wildfire danger. (NOAA; National Weather Service; Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean
Tropical Storm Paloma:  At 4:00 a.m. EST, the center of Tropical Storm Paloma was located about 65 miles east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border. Paloma is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph.  This general motion is expected to continue through tonight, with a
gradual turn toward the north expected on Friday. Reports from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph, with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Paloma could become a
hurricane on Friday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center.

Eastern Pacific
The remnants of Tropical Depression Polo are located about 1,280 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Upper-level winds are unfavorable for re-development to occur.

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

Earthquake Activity

A series of light earthquakes, magnitudes 3.0 to 3.3, were reported offshore in the Puerto Rico region. Depths were approximately 28 miles. No tsunami bulletins. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program,  Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1795-DR-Indiana,  Amendment # 6.  Effective November 5, 2008, the disaster declaration was amended to include an additional seven counties for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance) and three counties for Individual Assistance.

FEMA-1791-DR-Texas,  Amendment # 11.  Effective November 5, 2008, this declaration was amended to  include an additional 14 counties for Public Assistance; two counties for Public Assistance (already designated for Individual Assistance); and four counties for Public Assistance [Categories C-G] (already designated for Individual Assistance and debris removal and emergency protective measures [Categories A and B], including direct Federal Assistance, under the Public Assistance program).

FEMA-1798-DR-Puerto Rico,  Amendment # 4. Effective November 5, 2008, this declaration was amended  to include Las Piedras and Naguabo municipalities for Individual Assistance (already designated for Public Assistance). (FEMA HQ)