Wednesday, January 5, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Moderate to heavy rain and snow showers are forecast for the Pacific Northwest and Northern Great Basin through Friday. The heaviest precipitation amounts are likely in the Olympics and Washington Cascades. Light to moderate snow is expected in the Northern Rockies for most of today.
South
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley while a wintry mix of rain and snow is expected for portions of the southern Appalachians.
Midwest
A prolonged period of lake effect snow is forecast across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region through Thursday, with 12 to 18 inches of snow expected in the higher terrain. An Alberta Clipper will drop southeastward through the Upper Midwest this morning and produce a light area of precipitation in the Ohio Valley by this evening. The Northern Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley will see some light snow with minor snowfall accumulations through Friday.
Northeast
Lake effect snow will continue for parts of western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania through this morning, with snow accumulations of 4-7 inches possible in some areas.
(NOAA and various media sources)

NOAA Improves Marine and Weather Forecast Models for the Great Lakes

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NOAA is now using enhanced weather and marine forecast models for the Great Lakes that will extend forecasts from 36 hours to 60 hours into the future to better serve emergency responders, water resource managers, commercial, and recreational mariners, the shipping industry, and the private weather industry. The goal is to give NOAA customers better, more reliable and timely information. The National Ocean Serviceâs Great Lakes Operational Forecast System predicts currents, water level and water temperature with the National Weather Serviceâs most powerful and reliable supercomputers. The new program is a first effort toward combining NOAAâs environmental modeling efforts with state-of-the art technology. For the complete article see www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/.html
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity

Amendment # 1, for DR-1936 was approved January 4, 2011. This amendment makes both the Navajo Nation and the Pueblo of Acoma eligible for the Public Assistance Program for this New Mexico disaster response.
(FEMA HQ)
Stay informed of FEMA's activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.Â*


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