Tuesday, January 10, 2012

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West
Some rain and snow showers are possible from Northern California to Montana today. Snow showers are forecast for the Northern Rockies and High Plains tonight as a strong cold front moves through the region and ushers in a much colder air mass.
South
An area of low pressure developing near the central Gulf Coast will produce a wide swath of moderate to heavy rain today from Texas eastward through much of the Lower Mississippi Valley and into the Southeast.Â* Scattered thunderstorms can also be expected, and some may become severe.Â*
Midwest
A storm over the central Gulf Coast will move northeastward to the southern Ohio Valley by Wednesday morning, producing light to moderate rain.Â* Another system moving along the U.S./Canadian border will slowly move eastward from the Northern Plains to the Upper Great Lakes by Wednesday evening.Â* The storm will produce snow over the Northern Intermountain Region and Northern Rockies and will move into the Upper Midwest and Middle Mississippi Valley by Wednesday evening.Â* High temperatures will remain 15-20 degrees above average today across the Northern Plains, though colder air will be moving into the Region by Midweek.Â*Â*Â*
Northeast
The low pressure system moving across the Southeast today will move northeastward and eventually begin affecting the Mid-Atlantic region by Wednesday morning.Â* Snow and some freezing rain may develop over parts of the Central Appalachians by Wednesday evening.Â*
Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed over the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.Â*Â*
Heavy Snow - Southern Alaska:

Â*Prince William Sound, Alaska
Severe winter snow storm response activities continue in Prince William Sound (Cordova & Valdez).Â* Blizzard conditions are expected to continue today with an additional 5 to 10 inches of snow forecast. The City of Cordova declared a local emergency and requested state assistance.Â* Cordova continues assessing potential structure hazards and is currently reporting 6 structures damaged (4 commercial / 2 private).Â* The airport is clear of snow and the ferry terminal is accessible if needed.Â* There is currently one shelter open with no occupants.Â* No injuries or fatalities have been reported. The Alaska State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains partially activated and has one team deployed to Cordova (other teams remain on standby.Â* Avalanche control personnel are onsite.Â* There are currently 57 Alaska National Guardsmen assisting with snow removal. The Region X Regional Response Coordination Center remains at Watch/Steady State, and there are no requests for FEMA assistance.

Nome, Alaska Energy Support

The Russian Tanker Renda, accompanied by US Coast Guard Cutter HEALY, continues to transit through ice en-route to Nome, Alaska.Â* The vessels are moving at 7 mph with 700 yards between ships to prevent ice closure around the Renda. The Ice breakers are approximately 100 miles south of Nome.Â* There have been no requests for FEMA assistance.
Severe Weather âEastern Texas

A storm system moving through the Southern Plains brought severe weather and flash flooding to southeast Texas on Monday.Â* There are preliminary reports of a tornado in Texas City TX (Galveston County) which damaged the Mall of the Mainland (partial roof collapse) no deaths or injuries reported.Â*Â* Fort Bend County activated their Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as a result of severe weather.Â* The cities Houston and Richmond experienced some flooding in low lying residential areas.Â* There are approximately 8,500 customers without power in the Houston and Galveston areas, down from just under 24,000.Â* Power has been restored to most areas (down from peak outages of approximately 27,000).Â* The Texas State EOC remains partially activated for previous incidents but was not activated in response to the current severe weather event.Â* There has been no request for Federal assistance at this time.
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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