Friday, January 13, 2012

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

Midwest
Gusty winds and widespread snow showers will continue across the Great Lakes and along the central/northern Appalachians. Temperatures will remain cold overÂ*Â* the Northern Plains; however little accumulation can be expected.
Northeast
Lake enhanced snow, rain and sleet will continue in the Great Lakes and into the Northeast through Saturday. Heavy snow is possible from western Pennsylvania, into western New York, and northern Maine. Temperatures over much of the eastern U.S. will fall to below normal for this time of year and stay below normal through the weekend.
West
Â*A cold front will move into the Pacific Northwest late Friday night or early Saturday morning, producing moderate-to-heavy mountain and lowland snow. Below normal temperatures are forecast for the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies through the weekend. Strong offshore winds are expected in Southern California along the mountains of Los Angeles County including the Santa Monica Range this weekend. The remainder of the region is forecast to be clear and dry into the weekend.
South
Light snow showers are possible over the Southern Appalachians. The remainder of the region is forecast to be pleasant and dry.Â*

Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed over the past 24 hours and none are predicted for the next 24 hours.Â*Â*
Severe Weather in Western North Carolina - Update:

On Thursday, a NOAA National Weather Service Survey Team confirmed that EF-2 tornadoes touched down in Burke and Rutherford Counties on Wednesday, January 11. Winds were estimated to be between 115 and 130 mph. The tornadoes were a part of the severe weather system that moved through three counties in western North Carolina Wednesday evening producing strong winds, tornadoes, hail and heavy rain. Close to 200 structures were reported damaged. Initial reports indicate 37 homes were destroyed, 65 received major damage, and more than twenty businesses were impacted. Fifteen injuries were attributed to the severe weather. Power restoration to nearly all of the 5,000 affected customers was completed late Thursday. One shelter was open Wednesday night with 17 occupants.
Burke County, NC, declared a local State of Emergency. The North Carolina Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remained at Level 4 (not activated). North Carolina requested Joint Individual Assistance (IA) Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) for Burke and Rutherford counties. Two Region IV PDA teams are scheduled to begin PDAs in Burke and Rutherford Counties later today. The FEMA Region IV RRCC is at Watch/Steady State and the Regional Watch Center is monitoring the situation.
Nome Alaska Energy Support â Update

The Russian Tanker Renda and USCG Cutter Healy made good progress on Thursday, January 12. NOAA ice forecasts on leads and areas of lighter ice concentrations were used. As of Thursday evening, the vessels were approximately 34 miles from Nome. A USCG C-130 provided ice recon and an MH-65 helicopter provided SAR coverage; however, weather will prevent over flight and SAR support today. Contingencies remain in place for over-the-ice fuel transfer of Rendaâs 1.3 million gallons of fuel, if necessary. There has been no request for FEMA assistance and none is anticipated.
Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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