Sunday, December 18, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West
Heavy snow and blizzard conditions will develop in areas of New Mexico into the Southern/Central High Plains today with expected widespread snowfall of 6 to 12 inches. Look for scattered rain showers across Southern California and portions of Arizona with precipitation totals on the lighter end. Elsewhere, expect a few rain and snow showers in western Washington and northwest Oregon. Highs should reach the 30s and 40s from the Northwest to the Rockies and the 50s and 60s from California to southern Arizona.
Midwest
An unstable air mass across southeastern Texas should support a threat for severe weather on Monday. Showers and rain will develop in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas during the afternoon and spread into western Texas tonight, then turn to snow with blizzard conditions in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles Monday and Monday night as the system moves east. Elsewhere, some light snow flurries or freezing drizzle is possible from northeast Minnesota to northern Michigan.
South
High pressure will keep much of this region relatively quiet and dry today, except for a few passing showers in southeast Florida and the Florida Keys. Highs will be mainly in the 50s from northern Texas to the Carolinas and 60s and 70s in the Gulf coast and Florida.
Northeast
Most of the region will remain dry today with scattered snow showers expected from western New York down to northeast West Virginia. Up to an inch of accumulation is possible from those snow showers. Look for temperatures to climb into the 30s and 40s from southern New York and southern New England to the Virginias.Â* (NOAA, National Weather Service and media sources)Â*
Winter storm to develop over Southern and Central Plains on Monday

A storm system will bring winter weather to the southern Rockies starting tonight then spread into portions of the Central & Southern Great Plains Monday into Tuesday. Moderate to heavy and north strong winds will be the primary risks, especially across northeast New Mexico into the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. Heavy rainfall is also possible across northeast Oklahoma on Monday, where rain totals may exceed 3 inches in localized areas.
Missouri River Flood Task Force Wraps Up Second Meeting

Â*Following the historic flooding in the Missouri River basin, a coalition of federal, state, tribal and non-profit groups have formed to address both immediate and long-term floodplain management challenges. The task force recently wrapped up its second meeting held Dec. 12 in Overland Park, Kansas, with a clear path forward. The task force is formed from many federal agencies, representatives of each of the eight states and various tribes in the Missouri River basin. Participating as partners and contributors to the Task Force is an array of non-profit organizations and industry groups that represent a spectrum of interests impacted by the flooding this past summer. âThe task force reflects FEMAâs Whole Community approach to emergency management. Incorporating multiple organizations and agencies, at all levels, into recovery planning strengthens our ability to recover more rapidly,â said Beth Freeman, FEMA Region VII Administrator. âWe are building relationships so the next time this happens we wonât have to start from scratch. The conversations we had during Mondayâs meeting should lead to a clearer path ahead.â
Aftershocks Continue Along Puerto Rico's West Coast

Aftershocks continue off the west coast of Puerto Rico following M5.1 and M5.3 earthquakes that struck within 3 minutes of each other early Saturday morning approximately 15 miles west of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. More than 11 aftershocks, ranging in intensity from M3.0 to M3.2, have been recorded in the same general area of the Mona Passage as the two quakes from Saturday morning. No tsunami information statements have been issued and no damage has been reported. Media reported that the two large Saturday morning quakes caused only very minor damage and some brief power outages.
The ongoing swarm of earthquakes occurred in the same general area as the 1918 M7.5 earthquake that was centered about 10 miles off the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. The 1918 earthquake caused widespread destruction concentrated in the western area of the island, and generated a medium sized tsunami that produced a 20 ft wave along Puerto Ricoâs western coast. The earthquake (and tsunami) killed about 116 people, and damaged or destroyed numerous houses, factories, public buildings, chimneys, bridges and other structures across Puerto Rico.
Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed during the past 24 hours and no space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.Â*
Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

Aftershocks continue offshore west of Puerto Rico following the magnitude 5.1 and 5.3 earthquakes that occurred early yesterday morning.Â*
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


More...