Monday, February 14, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Northeast
A mixture of snow and rain changing to snow will extend from West Virginia to Maine.Â* The heaviest snow will fall across northern Maine with accumulations totaling five to 10 inches.Â* Strong winds with gusts from 30-45 mph are expected across the New England region.Â* Temperatures below zero will move into portions of northern New York and northern New England.
Midwest
Snow showers could bring several inches of snow to Michigan and eastern Ohio.Â* Strong winds with gusts to 40 mph are expected across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.Â* Warm temperatures across the Midwest through the week may cause rapid snow/ice melt creating the potential for ice jams and localized flooding.
West
A storm impacting the West coast from Washington to central California and northern Idaho will bring rain, snow, and wind throughout the week.Â* A mudslide was reported north of Vancouver, Wash., and the potential exists for more mudslides as rain continues.Â* The heaviest rainfall will be in the Olympic Mountain range; one to four inches of rain is expected.Â* Strong winds are expected across coastal Washington, Oregon, the Sierra and Western Nevada.Â* Lower elevations could see wind gusts between 60-70 mph, while the summit of the Sierra range could see wind gusts of 100 mph.
South
A dry cold front will bring windy conditions to Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas with wind gusts of more than 30 mph.Â* Average temperatures, low humidity, and windy conditions will increase the fire danger across the Southeast.Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)

Lake Effect Snow

Â*Lake Effect Snow contributes significantly to the total seasonal snowfall in western and central New York.Â* In fact, the higher elevations east of Lake Ontario receive more than 200 inches of snow annually, making that area the snowiest populated region east of the Rocky Mountains.Â* The relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes often create convective instability in an otherwise stable arctic or polar continental airmass.Â*
To produce Lake Effect Snow two essential criteria must occur:Â* 1.) A relatively warm body of water (e.g., Great Lake) and 2.) A source of cold air.Â* In the Great Lakes Region, the source of cold air comes from the high latitudes of North America where arctic airmasses often move southward over those warm bodies of water.Â* Heat and moisture from the warm lakes rises into the "modified" arctic air, where it then cools and condenses into snow clouds.Â* The prevailing wind direction through the depth of the snow clouds determines where the snow will occur.Â*(NWS Buffalo)Â*
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in New Mexico, Missouri and Washington.
Wildfire Update

Wildfire on Yakama Indian Reservation in White Swan, Wash. â FINAL UPDATE
A wildfire occurred in the community of White Swan, Wash., on the Yakama Indian Reservation.Â* The Yakama Indian Nation declared a local emergency.Â* The fire is 100 percent contained; however, logs at a local mill continue to burn.Â* Two minor injuries were reported.Â*(Yakima County Office of Emergency Management)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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