Thursday, April 22, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Locally heavy rainfall and a few thunderstorms will affect a large portion of the region from California to Colorado and from Idaho to northern Mexico. Strong winds and heavy snowfall may continue over the mountains in the Great Basin. Severe weather is forecast today in eastern Colorado with large hail and damaging winds possible. Southern California, the Great Basin, and the northern and central Rockies will see more rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds. Some locally heavy rain will fall from western Wyoming to eastern Idaho. In some higher terrain areas, a few localized pockets of flooding are possible.
Northeast
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast from Maine to southern New England with a few storms possible from New York City to Philadelphia and westward into the Appalachians.
Midwest
Showers and storms will continue today along and north of a front stretching across the central Plains. An isolated severe thunderstorm is possible along this front from southwest Missouri to central Kansas. Later today severe storms are expected to develop from western Kansas to the Texas Panhandle. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are possible.
South
Most of the region will be clear and dry with only the region from northwest Texas to Kentucky and Tennessee seeing some showers and thunderstorms. A few storms could become severe across Oklahoma and Texas, especially later in the day through the evening. A few of these storms could produce large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.Â*(NOAA, National Weather Service and media sources)Â*
Volcanic Activity

Eyjafjalla, Iceland Volcano Update
Transatlantic flights have returned to normal, with 338 flights arriving in Europe on April 21, 2010. EUROCONTROL expected 22,500 flights to have taken place on April 21 in European airspace. On a normal Wednesday, 28,000 flights would have taken place, so over 80% of the total number of usual flights was expected to occur.
All European airspace above 20,000 feet is now available, with almost all of European airspace below 20,000 feet available. All European airports are open, with the exception of Helsinki-Vantaa in Finland and parts of northern Scotland. Leipzig Helle Airport in Germany, and Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden, are open, but with many cancellations and delays. British Airways reported that it would operate all its long-haul flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick airports on April 21, and Air China reports that its flights to Europe have been fully restored as of April 21. Over 100,000 flights have been cancelled since April 15.Â* It is anticipated that almost 100% of air traffic will take place in Europe on April 22.Â*(MET OFFICE, EUROCONTROL - April 21, FAA, Various News Sources)
Earth Day

Today, April 22, 2010, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as an environmental teach-in held on April 22, 1970. It is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earthâs environment. Earth Day is celebrated in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and in autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
The first Earth Week orginated in Philadelphia in 1970. This year, Earth Week is from April 17 to 25. Earth Week events are designed to encourage environmental awareness and promote activities such as recycling, using energy efficiently, and reducing or reusing disposable products.
Washington, D.C. will hold one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in U.S. history - a day-long event on the National Mall to celebrate the 40th anniversary of both Earth Day and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The event will take place on April 25 and is sponsored by the Earth Day Network, featuring music, entertainment, speakers, and environmental activities. More than 50 non-profits, government agencies and businesses will participate. Simultaneous free events will be held in New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.(Various Media Sources)Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity

FEMA-1902-DR-NE was declared on April 21, 2010, for Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and Flooding that occurred in Nebraska from March 6 to April 3, 2010. Public Assistance for 35 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide, have been approved. The FCO is Stephen R. Thompson.
FEMA-1901-DR-ND was declared on April 21, 2010, for a Severe Winter Storm that occurred in North Dakota from April 1-3, 2010. Public Assistance for 12 counties and one Indian Reservation, and Hazard Mitigation statewide and for all Tribes in North Dakota, have been approved. The FCO is Justo Hernandez.Â*Â*(FEMA HQ)Â*


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