Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)
Significant National Weather:
West
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect as heavy snow continues across the Southern Rockies into the Southern High Plains today. Snowfall of 1 to 6 inches is possible in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Higher elevations could see over a foot of new snow through early Tuesday. Much below normal temperatures are expected in the Intermountain West and the Rocky Mountain regions. Santa Ana winds began late Sunday night in southern California and will continue through early Tuesday. Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are possible in and below mountain passes, canyons and coastal regions through Monday. Critical fire weather conditions and Red Flag Warnings continue across portions of the Southern California Mountains and coastal areas.
South
Moderate to heavy rain continues for portions of Texas into the Lower Mississippi and Ohio valleys. Storms could become severe, with rainfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Flash Flood Watches/Warnings and Flood Warnings remain in effect for isolated areas from northeast Texas through the Lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys.
Midwest
Rain and showers are expected from central Michigan through the Ohio Valley to southeast Missouri and Kentucky. Rainfall accumulations of over 1 inch are possible in Ohio, western Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. Light snow is possible in northern Wisconsin and Michigan.
Northeast
Light rain is expected from western Pennsylvania into southern New England; the remainder of the region is forecast to be dry.
High Wind Events - December 1-2, 2011
California
Communities in Southern, Central and Northern California continue to recover from the high wind event that occurred last week. Strong winds with gusts of 50 to 60 mph are forecast to resume across the mountains and passes of Southern California Sunday night and move into the coastal areas early this morning. These critically strong, sustained Santa Ana winds combined with low relative humidity are expected to create critical fire weather conditions in portions of the mountains and coastal regions.
Power restoration continues in the Southern California communities of Burbank, Glendale, Altadena and Pasadena, hardest hit last week. Approximately 47,000 customers remained without power as of Sunday afternoon (down from peak outages of over 444,000). Approximately 95% restoration is expected by this morning. The shelter at Jackie Robinson Park in Pasadena was open through the weekend. Debris removal is continuing. A local State of Emergency was declared for 13 cities, and Los Angeles County has begun initial damage estimates. The California EOC and the Southern Regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) have returned to normal operations. FEMA Region IX remains at normal operations.
Utah
In the counties hardest hit by high winds last week fewer than 800 customers remain without power, down from a peak of 54,000. The Utah National Guard and Department of Transportation were activated to assist with debris cleanup. All American Red Cross shelters have closed. One unconfirmed weather-related fatality and 21 injuries are being reported. Davis County declared a State of Emergency and requested State assistance. Davis County EOC is partially activated and the Utah State EOC is monitoring. FEMA Region VIII remains at normal operations.
California's Santa Ana Winds:
Southern California's "Santa Anas" are dry, north-easterly winds having speeds in excess of 29 miles per hour. Santa Ana conditions are commonly associated with gusts of more than twice this level. These offshore winds usually occur in late fall and winter when a high pressure system forms in the Great Basin between the Sierra Nevadas and the Rocky Mountains. The air warms as it flows downslope from the high plateau, and its speed increases dramatically when forced through narrow canyons and mountain passes. Due to Southern California's uneven terrain, the strength of the winds varies greatly from place to place, and the Santa Anas can be sufficiently strong to pick up surface dust. (NASA) Image Credit: UCLA and UC San Diego research studies â Steve Greenberg/Star Staff. For more information see
3cals.phrelin.com/Rationale.htm and
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03445
Space Weather:
No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours and no space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity
No new activity (FEMA HQ)
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