Thursday, April 14, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

Midwest
An early spring snowstorm is expected to impact much of the Northern and Upper Central Plains today. The intensity of the precipitation will increase tonight into Friday morning. Some thunderstorms from southeast Nebraska through eastern Oklahoma could contain large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
West
Extensive, unsettled weather conditions will continue across the Pacific Northwest and into the Central and Northern Rockies over the next couple of days. The Cascades may have snow.Â* Several inches of snow can be expected in western Montana and Wyoming. Windy conditions are forecast in the Great Basin. Rain and snow showers will extend into central and western Colorado through Friday afternoon. Critical to Extreme Fire Weather conditions are forecast across the Southern Plains and southeast New Mexico due to low relative humidity and gusty winds.
South
A strong surge of moisture out of the Gulf of Mexico will assist in the production of widespread strong to severe thunderstorms over the Southern and lower Central Plains today.Â* Dangerous tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain are possible. High temperatures could reach the 80âs across most of the region. Tonight thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornados are forecast over parts of northeast Texas.
NortheastÂ*
New England is expected to have early morning scattered rain showers with the possibility of a wintry mix in the higher elevations.Â* Tonight, rain changes to wet snow in northern New York, northern Vermont and northern New Hampshire with possible accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Low level moisture will result in low clouds and fog patches across southern New England for much of the night. The fog may be locally dense at times across Cape Cod.
Burlington # 1 Dam, Ward County, North Dakota

The Dam is located approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the town of Burlington, ND (population 1,060). The Flash Flood Watch for locations downstream of Burlington #1 Dam has been extended through Saturday evening, April 16. There is a moderate risk of dam failure. Dam failure could result in an additional two to three foot rise in water levels on the Des Lacs River, and a one foot rise above current river levels one mile below the dam. Downstream from the confluence of the Des Lacs and Souris Rivers, any extra rise in the Souris would be on the order of a few inches.
State and Local Response
The evacuation of the Project Road area below the dam remains in effect for 20 homes, affecting approximately 50-100 people. The North Dakota National Guard has deployed one UH-60 helicopter from Bismarck to Minot, North Dakota and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department has prepositioned 4 flat bottom boats at Minot in anticipation of potential response operations. No additional requests for FEMA assistance.

Midwest Spring Flooding

Major to minor flooding continues across many of the rivers in the Upper Midwest.
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

• National Preparedness Level: 1
• Initial attack activity: Light (71 new fires)
• New Large Fires: 7
• Large Fires Contained: 3
• Uncontained Large Fires: 22
• Type 1 IMTs Committed: 1
• Type 2 IMTs Committed: 1
• States affected: TX, OK, GA, FL, NM, CO, and KS (NIFC)

Wildfire Activity
Weather Conditions
Critical and Extremely Critical fire weather areas are identified across the Southern Plains and throughout portions of the Southern Rockies. Sustained winds of 30-40 mph, with gusts of 50-60 mph, will combine with a very warm and extremely dry air mass and record dry fuels to create extreme fire danger through this evening. Red flag warnings are in effect today through this evening across all of northern and central New Mexico, west Texas and portions of Oklahoma. Red Flag warnings will be in effect this afternoon and evening for southwest and south central Georgia and the southeast corner of Alabama due to expected long durations of low relative humidity. (NWS)
Disaster Declaration Activity

Â*Amendment No. 1 to FEMA-3318-EM-ND was approved on April 13, adding Grand Forks, Pembina, Walsh, and Ward Counties for emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance ProgramÂ*(FEMA HQ)Â*


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