Tuesday, December 28, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
A strong Pacific storm will move into the Pacific Northwest today and Wednesday and bring rain and mountain snow from western Oregon to central California. Strong winds and blowing and drifting snow will produce blizzard-like conditions in open basins. The heavy rain and snow will shift southward through central and southern California tonight and Wednesday morning. Rainfall for western Oregon and northwest California could reach from 1 to 4 inches locally while several feet of snow will fall in the Cascades, from 2,500 feet in western Washington to between 3,500 and 4,000 feet in northern California. Snow will mix with rain at the lower elevations from the Washington and Oregon Great Basin into the northern Rockies.
Northeast
Strong winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph will continue this morning over portions of New England. Temperatures will range from near average to 10 degrees below average.
Midwest
The Midwest will remain quiet and dry today with temperatures from near average to 10 degrees above average across the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley. The eastern Ohio Valley will remain 5 to 15 degrees below average.
South
Hard Freeze Warnings are in effect through mid-morning for most of Alabama and Florida, as well as coastal Mississippi and southern Georgia. Overnight low temperatures are expected to be in the teens across most of Alabama, while Florida lows will range from near 20 degrees inland to the mid-twenties along the coast. Central and eastern Texas can expect rain today.
(NOAA and various media sources)
Northeast Winter Storm (December 24-27, 2010)

Current Situation:
The snow and the strongest winds from the storm have now subsided but winds and intense gusts will continue to impact travel in New York and New England today. The three New York Area airports reopened but cancellations continue as the airlines reschedule thousands of stranded passengers across the Northeast region. Train service is also working to accommodate thousands of stranded passengers along the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak service from Washington, D.C., to Boston is running but with limited service.
FEMA Region I is operating at a Watch/Steady State. The Governor of Massachusetts declared a State of Emergency on Dec. 26, 2010. Massachusetts National Guard personnel were deactivated but Rhode Island National Guard remains on standby for the storm response. Two shelters remain open.
FEMA Region II is operating at a Watch/Steady State. The American Red Cross is continuing to support sheltering in some areas of New York and New Jersey. New Jersey National Guard personnel remain on standby for the storm response.
FEMA Region III is operating at a Watch/Steady State. Philadelphia, Pa., lifted their declared snow emergency. National Guard personnel from Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware remain activated for the storm response.
FEMA Region IV is operating at a Watch/Steady State. In North Carolina, National Guard personnel are on standby for the storm response. In southern and central Florida, several warming shelters remain open. There are no requests for FEMA assistance.
(FEMA Regions I, II, III, and IV, NICC/TSOC, FAA, NOAA)
Earthquake Activity

No significant activity.
(USGS)
Disaster Declaration Activity

No activity.
(FEMA HQ)
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