• Emergency Managers and Personnel
• Situation Reports
• National Incident Management System
• Grants & Assistance Programs
• Training
• Contacts
• Planning
• Best Practices

National Situation Update: Friday, November 7, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow and fierce winds in the western Dakotas that caused numerous power outages and closed roads. Snow will continue across the eastern Dakotas and Nebraska throughout much of today; however, the storm will decrease in intensity. More than 45 inches of snow overwhelmed the Deadwood, SD area; drifts in the Black Hills were up to 20 feet high and the Rapid City area dealt with a foot of snow and wind gusts over 60 mph.

Elsewhere, a cold front will cause some rain and thunderstorms from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley today.  Friday highs will be well below average from the Dakotas to Missouri and western Illinois, but well above average ahead of the front in the eastern Ohio Valley. Highs will range from the 30s in the Dakotas to the 60s in the Ohio Valley.

Northeast
A slow-moving storm moving up the Eastern Seaboard will push offshore today; however, some rain continues from northeastern New York to northern New England. An additional cold front approaches from the west bringing some rain later on Friday across western New York, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and southwest Virginia. Highs Friday will range from the 50s in Maine to the 70s in the Virginias.

West
A continual onshore frontal boundary is producing large amounts of rain across western Washington, especially in the mountains. The Olympics and northern Cascades will see 4 to 6 inches of rain. Snow levels will rise to 8,500 feet resulting in melting snow and flooding. Rain and higher mountain snow will also extend southward into Oregon and northern California and eastward into Montana and northwest Wyoming. 

Light Santa Ana winds will cause an enhanced fire threat over parts of Southern California throughout the day; Red Flag warnings in effect until this evening.

Highs Friday will range from the 30s in eastern Montana, the Rockies and Cascades to the upper 70s and low 80s in southern California and southern Arizona.

South
A cold front will push into the Southeast on Friday resulting in scattered showers and thundershowers, followed by cooler temperatures. Rainfall will be very light in the drought-plagued areas of the region.
A storm system will develop over the southern Plains late in the weekend and this system will spread more significant rain across the South next week. (NOAA; National Weather Service; Various Media Sources)

Early Winter Storm in Dakotas

A winter storm with blizzard like conditions began early Thursday morning November 6, producing heavy snow and winds in excess of 40 mph in the west and central Dakotas. Snow and blowing winds will persist into Friday. Blizzard Warnings are in effect for portions of western and central SD.

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (ND DES) reported numerous road closures due to white-out conditions, and roads blocked or nearly impassable in southwestern ND, including portions of two interstates. Adams County, ND Sherriff reported numerous accidents and approximately six inches of snow, with drifts nearly three feet.

In South Dakota, the Office of Emergency Management (SD OEM) reports power outages and road closures in four counties and two Tribal Reservations due to heavy and blowing snow. Shelters have been opened.

ND DES is monitoring the situation and has not activated the Emergency Operations Center.  The SD OEM is also monitoring the situation and coordinating with local jurisdictions. FEMA Region VIII reports there has been no request for State or Federal assistance at this time. Region VIII remains in contact with the both State emergency offices and continues to monitor.(Region VIII, ND Web EOC, ND DES, SD OEM)

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 Hurricane Paloma was located about 110 miles, south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 255 miles west of Montego Bay Jamaica. Paloma is moving toward the north near 9 mph, and this motion is expected to continue today.  A gradual turn toward the northeast is expected tonight and Saturday.  On the forecast track the center of Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands late Friday or early Saturday.
 
Reports from Air Force Reserve and NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph, with higher gusts.  Paloma is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.  Additional strengthening is likely and Paloma is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane later today, and possibly reach Category 3 intensity by Saturday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles.

Eastern Pacific
No tropical cyclone formation is expected during the next 48 hours

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 5.3 earthquake was reported today at 3:37 a.m. in the Guam region, 90 miles SSW of Hagatna, Guam. Depth 21 miles. No tsunami bulletin issued. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program,  Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)