Friday, January 7, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Rain is forecast to move from western Washington into western Oregon and on to northern California by Saturday. Some areas of Washington could see up to 6 inches of snow today. Snow forecast over the Northern Rockies to the Northern Plains on Saturday.
Rain and snow is also forecast from eastern Washington into Idaho. California will be dry today, but morning fog is expected in the Central Valley.
Midwest
Light snow over parts of the upper Midwest to the Tennessee Valley this morning moving to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the Ohio Valley by Friday evening before traveling off the coast mostly by Saturday morning.
The counterclockwise flow over the great lakes will produce lake effect snow downwind from the lakes and into parts of the central Appalachians Friday evening into Saturday. Parts of the Upper Peninsula may see over a foot of snow through tonight while some areas on the east side of Lake Michigan could receive from 6 to 12 inches of snow. High temperatures will only reach the teens over parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin; the Great Lakes area will see highs in the 20s, while much of the Ohio Valley will be in the 30s.
South
Parts of the South will have some wintry precipitation today; light accumulations are expected across parts of Kentucky and Tennessee, with some higher amounts around the southern Appalachians.
Parts of North Carolina, east of the mountains, may see a light mixture of snow and rain. A potentially high impact winter storm is forecast for this weekend, and may continue into next week. Snow should start Saturday night across parts of Arkansas, should reach Atlanta by late Sunday, and move into the Carolinas on Sunday night. From northern Alabama, through northern Georgia to the Carolinas, snow may mix with or change to sleet and freezing rain.
Northeast
Snow is forecast from the Mid-Atlantic northward to the New York City area this morning due to a trough of low pressure. New York City could see from 3 to 5 inches of snow before the trough moves northward into the Hudson Valley and southern New England. Snowfall totals could range from 6 to 12 inches over parts of the Catskill Mountains through the Hudson Valley to the higher elevations of western Massachusetts and Connecticut by evening. A few areas near Lakes Erie and Ontario may also receive several inches of snow.
(NOAA and various media sources)
Train Derailment in Michigan

On January 6, 2011, at approximately 5:00 p.m. CST, twelve cars from a Canadian National Train derailed near Durand, Mich. and some cars began leaking hydrochloric acid. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment responded and requested assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An EPA Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team (START), and the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC) responded. Residents near the derailment were evacuated as a precaution and the American Red Cross is providing temporary shelter. It is anticipated that they will be able to return to their homes by 2:00 p.m. CST, January 7, 2011. Cleanup efforts and transfer of the remaining chemicals are ongoing. No requests for FEMA assistance have been received or are anticipated. FEMA Region V Regional Response Coordination Center remains at Watch/Steady State.
(FEMA HQ, FEMA Region V)
Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are currently underway in five states; New Jersey, New York, Missouri, California, and Washington.
(FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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