Tuesday, December 21, 2010

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather

West
Soggy southern California will pick up an additional one to six inches of rain on Tuesday and another six inches of rain on Wednesday. Rain will taper off Wednesday morning but by Wednesday evening more heavy rain is expected in the Southwest. Heavy snow, an additional three to six feet, is forecast for the southern Wasatch Mountains in Utah and the Colorado Rockies in areas below 7,500 feet.
Midwest
Two to four inches of snow is forecast from northern Minnesota to western Michigan. A light wintry mix will move across the Ohio Valley but fall only as light rain in Kentucky.
Northeast
An offshore storm moving east of Nova Scotia continues to affect New England and northern New York today. Heavy snow is forecast across Maine where some accumulations could reach six inches.
Northerly winds will gust up to 45 mph from Cape Cod and Nantucket to eastern Maine.
South
A weakening Midwest storm will move into the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians producing a light wintry mix across northeast Tennessee and the North Carolina Mountains. Ahead of this storm, temperatures will remain below average in parts of North Carolina and northeast Tennessee but will return to average across the remainder of the Southeast. Highs will range from the 40s in North Carolina to between 70 and 75 degrees in south Florida.
(NOAA and various media sources)
Severe Storms and Flooding - California

The series of strong Pacific storms that began on Friday, December 17, 2010, has now produced more than 13 inches of rain in portions of southern California. San Luis Obispo County reported 6.8 inches of rainfall while Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Counties reported more than three inches. Snow totals in northern California range from two to eight feet.Â*
Most rivers remain below flood stage but several creeks and wildfire burn areas are at risk of flooding and mud slides. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in portions of San Luis Obispo County and other areas suggested evacuations. Thus far, sheltering needs are limited but the state is making preparations for the possibility of increased need in the coming days. FEMA Region IX remains at Watch/Steady State and is monitoring the situation. There are no requests for FEMA assistance.
Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico
A small low pressure system is located about 50 miles east of Barbados but environmental conditions do not appear favorable for tropical cyclone formation. There is a low chance, near 10 percent of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Regardless of development this system could enhance rainfall and winds across portions of the windward islands today.
Eastern and Western Pacific
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.
Central Pacific
As of 4:00 a.m. EST on Dec 21, 2010, the center of Extra-tropical Gale Low Omeka was located about 280 miles south-southeast of Midway Island, HI, and about 930 miles west of Lihue, HI. Omeka is moving north-northeast near 18 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Tuesday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph, with higher gusts. Omeka will not impact the main Hawaiian Islands. Based on the current forecast track and intensity, the center of Omeka is passing just east of Lisianski Island in the northwest Hawaiian Islands as a gale low. Little change in intensity is forecast through tonight, with some weakening forecast by early Wednesday morning.
(NOAA, JTWC)
Earthquake Activity

At 11:25 p.m. EST on December 20, 2010, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred 31 miles south-southeast of Adak, Alaska, at a depth of 27 miles. No injuries or damages were reported. (USGS)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Disaster Field Offices
There are 10 Open Field Offices supporting 15 Major Disaster Declarations and 0 Emergencies.
(FEMA HQ)

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