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National Situation Update: Monday, November 24, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest   
A band of rain will move eastward through the lower Midwest in tandem with a cold front. Farther north, light snow - a few inches at most - is expected across Michigan. A few snow showers or flurries possible in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Chicago may see some wet non-accumulating snow in the morning.
Northeast
Rain in advance of a cold front moving eastward through the Ohio Valley will push into western New York state, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Virginia in the afternoon. In northwest Pennsylvania and western New York the rain could be mixed with wet snow. Gusty southerly breezes will precede the cold front. High temperatures will be near to a little below average ranging from the upper 20s in far northern Maine to the upper 50s in southeast and south-central Virginia. Highs in the 40s will be widespread from Pennsylvanis to central New England.
South
A cold front moving eastward through the south will be accompanied by showers and isolated thunderstorms. The damp weather will extend from eastern Texas into Tennessee and the southern Appalachians. Although overall precipitation will not be heavy, some localized cloudbursts are possible, especially in eastern Tennessee. By evening the bulk of the rainfall will move into the central Gulf Coast to the Carolinas. High temperatures will range from the 40s in parts of the Appalachians to the low 80s in far south Texas.
West
High pressure over the Great Basin wil keep the weather dry in the west. Temperatures will be near to above average with highs ranging from the 20s in the higher Cascades and Glacier National park to the low 80s in southwest Arizona and far southeast California. The Great Basin and central Rockies will see temperatures in the 40s and 50s. (NOAA, National Weather Service and Various Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No significant activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean:
A broad low pressure system located just north of Panama. A tropical depression could form in the next 48 hours if the system remains over water as it moves slowly westward.

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 magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurred at 4:02 a.m. EST located 195 miles west-northwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsiy, Russia at a depth of approximately 303 miles. There were no reports of a tsunami being  generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, Caribbean Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)