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National Situation Update: Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

South:
A storm system moving through northern Georgia and the southern Appalachians will bring light snowfall over northern Georgia with higher amounts possible over parts of the Carolinas and southeast Virginia.

Snowfall of two-to-four-inches, with locally heavier amounts, will fall from Charlotte, North Carolina to Norfolk, Virginia.  Higher elevations of the southern Appalachians may see a few inches of snow, with some mountain areas of North Carolina already having received six inches of snow since January 18.

The Southeast will be colder and windier, with highs ranging from the 20s in eastern Tennessee and the North Carolina Mountains, to the 70s in south Texas and far southern Florida.

Below-freezing temperatures will be widespread across central Florida by tomorrow morning.

Midwest:
A few snow showers are expected over the Great Lakes, with the rest of the region remaining dry.

High temperatures will range from the teens around the Great Lakes to the 60s on the High Plains of western Nebraska and western Kansas.

Northeast:
Considerable cloudiness and snow showers are forecast, with snow occurring only in southeast Virginia and Maryland, missing Washington, DC.

High temperatures today will range from the teens inland to the low 30s.

West:
Mainly dry weather is forecast, with fog and low clouds over the valleys and basins of the Northwest.

High temperatures will range from the upper 20s in some valleys in the Intermountain region to the low 80s in parts of southern California and southwest Arizona. (NOAA, NWS, Various Media Sources)

Presidential Inauguration Weather Forecast

The Winter Weather Advisory for the area has been discontinued, as the snow showers that took place yesterday have moved east.  Snow accumulation is now expected to be minimal.

It will be colder today, with temperatures in the lower 20s by sunrise.  High temperatures during the day will reach only 30 degrees, with wind gusts up to 20 mph in the late morning and afternoon.  Wind chill temperatures will be in the teens all day.

In the afternoon, it will be mostly cloudy, with a 30% chance of snow, with minimal accumulation, if any. (NWS)

Washington DC Weather Forecast

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 Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. EST, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred 80 miles southeast of Cold Bay, AK in the Aleutian Chain.  There were no reports of damage, injuries or tsunami. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)