Sunday, January 8, 2012

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West
Light to moderate precipitation will begin to work its way into the Northwestern U.S. on Sunday as a Pacific storm approaches the coast.
Temperatures continue to fall over the Central Great Basin and Desert Southwest. Snow showers moving across the Central Rockies and High Plains overnight will shift to the Southern Rockies today and moderate snowfall accumulations will be possible within the higher terrain of Colorado and New Mexico.
Strong winds and low relative humidity will create critical fire weather conditions this morning across portions of southern California, the northern California coastal mountains and the central/northern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
South
Showers and thunderstorms will increase across Texas and into northern Louisiana as a front moves eastward into the Southern Plains. Accumulations will be relatively light, with most areas picking up a half an inch or less. Light snow is also possible in portions of northwestern Texas. Some dense fog is likely during the morning from eastern Texas into the Southeast and Florida.
Midwest
The majority of the region will be dry and mild with some light snow showers or flurries possible in northern Michigan. Highs range from the 30s in the Great Lakes to the lower 50s from Kansas to the Ohio Valley.
Northeast
Extremely mild temperatures over the eastern U.S. are gradually beginning to fall due to a cold front passing through the region. Highs temperatures in the 20s and 30s are expected from northern New York to northern Maine and highs in the 40s and 50s are expected across the Mid-Atlantic. A few light snow showers are possible across New England.

Space Weather:

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

Prince William Sound, Alaska
A significant winter storm moving across the Prince William Sound is expected to continue producing heavy snow through the weekend. Multiple avalanches have closed roads in and around Cordova and Valdez, Alaska (est. pop: 9,636). Heavy snowfall in Valdez, Alaska, intensified overnight and will persist through this afternoon. Valdez has received 38.5â of new snowfall since Jan 5, and additional snow accumulations through the weekend will range from 12-18 inches. Richardson Highway north of Valdez is now open, but blizzard conditions still exist. Roads in Valdez are described as having 8 foot âborders.âÂ* The Valdez Incident Management Team is activated to support snow removal.
The City of Cordova declared a local snow emergency. Cordova has a snow depth of approximately 57 inches (measured at the airport). Additional snow accumulations of 2-5 inches are forecast through the weekend, with moderate rain/snow overnight changing to all snow later this morning. Three structures have collapsed (two commercial and one residential out-building). The Copper River Highway (providing access to the airport) is now open during daylight hours only; however, there is a growing concern regarding the possibility of another avalanche along the highway. Non-critical roads are now being used as snow dumps to clear primary roads necessary for emergency services. Over one hundred state responders will be sent to Cordova to assist the community. Resources from Whittier, Alaska will be sent to Cordova to assist with snow removal. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. There is one local shelter open with no occupants.
Â*The Alaska state Emergency Operation Center partially activated for daytime operations only (11:00am -11:00pm EST). The FEMA Region X Regional Administrator and Region X Incident Management Assistance Teams are in contact with state officials. Region X remains in contact with the state Emergency Operation Center and the National Weather Service. There have been no requests for FEMA assistance and the Region remains at Watch/Steady state.
Nome, Alaska Energy Support

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that the Russian Tanker Renda, accompanied by the USCGC HEALY (Ice Breaker), continues to transit through ice en-route to Nome, Alaska. The vessels are moving at six knots (seven mph) with 700 yards between ships to avoid ice closing in around the Renda. The two ships arrived at ice edge, approximately 300 miles from Nome, on Friday, Jan. 6 and are expected to arrive one nautical mile off Nome in the early morning hours of Jan, 9.
University of Anchorage personnel completed measurements of the ice in the outer harbor ice ridge seaward of the entrance. The minimum depth of ice below the ice ridge is reported to be 15-16 feet, indicating a significantly decreased likelihood that the Renda will be able to arrive to city dock where the fuel header is located. Contingency planning is underway for over-the ice transfer of fuel. The USCG reports significant media interest. The USCG Public Affairs staff and Air Station Kodiak are coordinating a C-130 flight to Nome after safe mooring of the Renda at Nome.

Potential Coastal Flooding - La Push, Wash.

Â*The US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District declared an emergency and partially activated their Emergency Operation Center, daytime hours only, in response to a coastal storm event affecting the Quileute Tribe in La Push, Washington.
The combination of high tide and 15-16 foot swells forecast for Monday, January 9, 2012, could cause a breach in the south jetty at the mouth of the Quillayute River, resulting in the potential for flooding in the town of La Push and in the Quileute Tribeâs lower village.
The USACE Olympic Peninsula Flood Team is deploying to assist the Quileute Tribe and the community of La Push, Washington. The Tribe requested assistance with temporary measures to protect their village and is providing approximately 5,000 cubic yards of granular fill to be placed to reduce the risk of a breach. The project is expected to take2 days.
Situated in Clallam County, the La Push community has an estimated population of 371 and encompasses nearly one square mile of land approximately 150 miles southeast of Seattle.Â* The State EOC is not activated and FEMA Region X remains at Watch/Steady State. There have been no requests for FEMA assistance and none are anticipated.Â*
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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