Wednesday, January 19, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
A lingering storm system will bring snow to the Intermountain West and central Rockies throughout the day. Another Pacific storm is expected to move into the region on Thursday, bringing more rain and snow. Flood Watches and Flash Flood Watches are in effect for Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii ahead of heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast for late tonight and Thursday.
Midwest
Snow and below normal temperatures will move over the Central Plains, and the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Four to six inches of snowfall is expected across portions of central Indiana, less in Ohio. In northern Nebraska, two to five inches of snow is expected. Lake effect snow will also continue across areas of Michigan today. In the Northern Plains, temperatures will drop into the teens with wind chills near 45 degrees below zero. Cold air temperatures will cause river ice will increase which may result in ice jams.
South
Most of the region will see decreasing clouds and lingering fog throughout the day. High temperatures from central Texas to the Central Plains will be 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Rain is forecast for areas of the Lower Mississippi Valley and parts of Florida could see showers and thunderstorms. Rain in Arkansas will transition into snow by midday Thursday.
Northeast
Rain and freezing rain will subside across the Mid Atlantic but freezing drizzle will continue for portions of New York and New Jersey. One to three inches of moderate snow, freezing rain, and drizzle will continue through this evening in New England.
(NOAA and various media sources)

Northwest â River Flooding

Runoff from recent heavy rainfall and snowmelt continue to decrease due to drier conditions and lowering snow levels. Most rivers and streams, with the exception of the lower reaches of the Yakima River in Oregon, and portions of the Snohomish, Chehalis and Cedar rivers in Washington, are either cresting or receding. In Washington, Flood Warnings continue for the Snohomish, Green, and Cedar Rivers in King and Snohomish Counties. In Oregon, Flood Warnings continue for the Pudding River at Aurora in Clackamas and Marion Counties. There were limited evacuations in Clackamas County and sheltering is being provided by the American Red Cross. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Flood Teams are supporting Kittitas County, Wash. FEMA Region X and the Bothell MERS Operations Center are monitoring at a Watch/Steady State. There are no requests for FEMA assistance.
(FEMA RX, Clackamas County SITREP)

Earthquake Activity

At 3:23 p.m. EST January 18, 2011, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred in southwestern Pakistan approximately 30 miles west of Dalbandin, Pakistan and 220 miles SW of Kandahar, Afghanistan, at a depth of 52 miles. There were no reports of damage or injury but strong shaking was reported in the vicinity if the quake. In general, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist.
(USGS)

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