Wednesday, February 9, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

South:
Areas of light rain, sleet and moderate to heavy snow will spread from Texas and Oklahoma into Arkansas and Mississippi later today. Snow will be heavy at times over most of Oklahoma and portions of Texas and Arkansas. Occasional wind gusts accompanying the cold arctic air will cause blowing and drifting of snow with poor visibility.
Midwest:
A reinforcing arctic cold front will move into the Upper Midwest and support lake effect snow on the southeastern portion of the Great Lakes. Snow will fall from southern Kansas to Kentucky. The Midwest remains very cold with temperatures 10 to 25 degrees below average.
Northeast:Â*
An arctic cold front will produce snow showers across Upstate New York and northern New England. Light snow will end over the Carolinas and southeastern Virginia by Thursday morning. Cold air will continue over the region bringing below average temperatures.
West:Â*
Winds will continue across Montana, Wyoming and parts of the Southwest. Gusty northeast winds are expected today over much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties with north to northeast winds 20 to 25 mph accompanied by gusts as high as 55 mph below passes and canyons. Temperatures between five and 30 degrees below average are expected across the interior.Â*(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)

Winter Storm across the Rockies, Plains, and Southeast

A winter storm is moving out of New Mexico and western Texas bringing moderate to heavy snow over the Central and Southern Plains. The winter storm is forecast to move eastward across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and into the Carolinas Wednesday night and Thursday.
U.S. Cooler and Much Drier than Normal in January

Last month was the coolest January since 1994, according to scientists at NOAAâs National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Across the contiguous United States, the average January temperature was 30.0 F, which is 0.8 F below the 1901-2000 average. And despite several large winter storms across the country, last month was the ninth driest January on record, much drier than normal. Average precipitation across the contiguous United States was 1.48 inches, 0.74 inch below the 1901-2000 average.
This monthly analysis, based on records dating back to 1895, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.
U.S. Climate: January HighlightsÂ*
Cooler-than-normal conditions dominated most areas east of the Rocky Mountains, while the western coastal states of California, Oregon and Washington had above-normal temperatures in January.
Several winter storms struck the northeastern U.S. during January, breaking January snowfall records in New York City and Hartford, Conn. Hartfordâs Bradley International Airport broke the city's record for all-time snowiest month with 57 inches.
As of Feb. 1, 24.1 percent of the United States was affected by moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. At this point last year, only 8.5 percent of the United States was affected.
Last month tied with 2003 as the driest January on record for the Southwest. Its January precipitation of 0.23 inches was nearly 0.7 inches below the 20th century average. The West also had very low precipitation, resulting in its eighth-driest January.
The Southeast experienced its seventh coolest November-January period on record. Five states had near-record cool temperatures: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and West Virginia.
January extended a pattern of continued dryness and expanding drought across a wide band of the southern United States. Four states experienced record drought for the November-January period: North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, and New Mexico.
Earthquake Activity

On Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at 5:02 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Oregon, approximately 283 miles west southwest of Portland, Ore., at a depth of 6.3 miles. The earthquake occurred in the Cascadia Fault Zone. There were no reports of damage or injury, and no tsunami was generated. (USGS, West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)Â*
Wildfire Update

National Fire Activity as of Friday, Febr. 4, 2011:Â*
New large fires:Â* 20
Large fires contained:Â* 20
Uncontained large fires:Â* 0
States Affected: Okla., Texas, Fla, Ark., Ariz., and Kan.Â*(NIFC)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


More...