Friday, April 8, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Unsettled weather conditions will remain over most of the region with the chance of rain showers, snow and thunderstorms through tonight. The heaviest rain is expected to fall in the foothills of the Sierras, Wasatch and the Central Rockies. Some scattered showers and a few short-lived thunderstorms are expected this afternoon in the Northern Rockies and Intermountain areas down to the Southern Rockies. After the rain, dry weather is expected throughout the region until early Sunday. Snow will continue in the Sierra Mountains and in Nevada, Idaho, Montana and the Wasatch of Utah with snowfalls exceeding a foot possible at higher elevations, especially in Idaho and Montana. Winds, along with low relative humidity levels, continue to cause high fire danger levels in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado.
Midwest
Showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight through Saturday from the Central Plains into the Middle Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes. Across portions of the Central Plains, gusty winds and small hail are possible with the chance for stronger showers to develop. Some snow could mix in overnight across northern parts of northeastern Wyoming and far northwestern South Dakota, but little or no accumulation is expected.
South
Light to moderate rain with isolated thunderstorms will move quickly from the Central Plains into the Midwest tonight before reaching the Mid-Atlantic Coast tonight. West of the Mississippi River high temperatures may reach the 80âs and 90âs and a few 100-degree readings are possible, in the Rio Grande Valley and in western Texas. Windy conditions are expected in western Oklahoma and western Texas with gusts of 40 to 60 mph possible in West Texas. Critical fire weather conditions continue through the weekend for parts of eastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas, western Oklahoma, a large portion of western Texas and New Mexico, southeastern Arizona.
Northeast
Rain is expected today in the Upper Ohio Valley. The rain will diminish tonight as the system moves eastward. Rain is also forecast for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources).Â*
Midwest Spring Flooding 2011

Current Situation
In North Dakota significant flooding is ongoing along the Red River of the North. The far southern part of the river basin is experiencing decreasing flows at points south of Abercrombie on the Wild Rice River and Enola on the Red River. This indicates that the primary rise from the two rivers is now headed into the Fargo area. The current rate of movement suggests that the primary rise could reach Fargo on Sunday, possibly ahead of runoff from any significant rain that could occur late Saturday and Sunday.
In Minnesota many rivers, streams and creeks remain flooded and many areas are still experiencing additional rises based on recent snowmelt upstream and runoff from precipitation from the past week. Some rivers have crested but water is still making its way into the main river systems. This will lead to ongoing flooding for some time.
Earthquake Activity

A Magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 10:32 a.m. EDT April 7, 2011, approximately 41 miles off the eastern coast of Honshu, Japan.Â* A local Tsunami Warning was issued for Japan, but no tsunami warnings, watches or advisories were issued for the United States or its territories.Â* No significant damage or injuries were reported.Â*(USGS)Â*
Preliminary Damage Assessments

A Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment is currently underway in New Mexico.
Wildfire Update

Thursday, April 7, 2011

• National Preparedness Level: 1
• Initial attack activity: Light (153 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 6
• Large Fires Contained: 14
• Uncontained Large Fires: 17
• Type 1 IMTs Committed: 1
• Type 2 IMTs Committed: 1
• States affected: CO, KS, NM, GA, TX, OK, MO and AR (NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

North Dakota
On April 7, 2011, the President declared Emergency Declaration FEMA-3318-EM for the state of North Dakota for flooding during the period April 5, 2011 and continuing. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding for Barnes, Cass, Richland, and Traill counties. The FCO is Willie G. Nunn of the National FCO Program.



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