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National Situation Update: Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Midwest
A storm system is moving eastward into North Dakota, central Wisconsin, and the northern part of Lower Michigan. Three to six inches of snow is forecast, with locally higher amounts.
The Plains and Upper Midwest will see a drop in temperatures late in the day; highs should range from a little below zero in north-central and northeast North Dakota to near 60 degrees in the southern Plains.
Northeast
Wind gusts from 30 to 40 mph are expected from the eastern Great Lakes to the East Coast; wind and light snow is forecast across parts of northern New York and northern New England.
High temperatures will range from the lower 20s over northern Maine to the 50s across much of Virginia.
South
The mild weather of the last few days will continue in the South; however, some colder air will move into the southern Plains and parts of Arkansas during the day.
High temperatures will range from the low 50s over parts of northeast North Carolina to the upper 70s across the southern half of the Florida Peninsula.
West
Scattered rain and snow showers are expected across the Pacific Northwest. Rain and mountain snow are forecast across the north Pacific Coast beginning late today and into Wednesday. Most of California and the Southwest will experience sunshine. High temperatures will range from around 10 degrees in extreme northeast Montana to the mid-70s in parts of Southern California and southern Arizona.(NOAA, NWS and Media Sources)

Region V Winter Weather Update

Over the weekend, thunderstorms and heavy rain, combined with ice melt, led to stream and river flooding over a large portion of the Midwest. Although Flood Warnings continue for numerous rivers in Illinois and Michigan, there is no major flooding forecast for the Region. Of the affected states only Michigan has continuing power outages; DOE reports 162,421 customers remain without service. Full power restoration is anticipated for Wednesday, December 31. All major highways and Interstates are operational. No requests for State or Federal assistance are anticipated. (Region V, DOE, DOT)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Western Pacific:
No activity affecting United States territories. (NOAA, HPC, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Series of Seismic Events for Yellowstone National Park
Since Saturday, December 27, a series of 74 minor earthquakes of magnitude 1.0 to 3.8 have occurred in Yellowstone National Park.. Additional seismic events of smaller magnitude have also occurred in the Montana and Wyoming areas of the Park. The Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (OHS) is reviewing Earthquake Response Plans and monitoring seismic activity. No damage has been reported as a result of these earthquakes.(USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Alaska Earthquake Information Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

On December 29, 2008, the Governor of Hawaii requested a major disaster declaration as a result of damage from heavy rains, high winds, and flooding during the period of December 10-16, 2008. The request is for Individual Assistance for the City and County of Honolulu; Public Assistance for Kauai County and the City and County of Honolulu; and Hazard Mitigation statewide. (FEMA HQ)