Thursday, January 5, 2012

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West:
Moderate to heavy precipitation continues over the Pacific Northwest as a pair of systems move from the Northeastern Pacific toward the Washington/British Columbia border. Heavy snow is forecast for the higher elevations of the Washington Cascades and coastal mountains of British Columbia. A wintry mix of rain and snow is expected to spread inland into the Bitterroots and Northern Rockies, and rain will move into the coastal areas of Oregon and far northern California today.
South:
Light rain showers along the western Gulf Coast could spread into the central Gulf Coast late today.
Midwest:
A system moving across the Midwest and Ohio Valley last night caused light, widespread snow showers over the Lower Great Lakes. Today, as the system progresses eastward, light snow is expected to expand into portions of the northern Appalachians.
Northeast:
Snow showers or flurries are forecast across the eastern Great Lakes and interior Northeast today. Up to three inches of snow is expected east of Lake Ontario near Watertown, NY. The remainder of the East will be dry today. Warmer temperatures will make a return toward seasonal averages.
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*
Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)
Wildfire Update

Browning, Glacier County, Montana
At approximately 7 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 4, multiple large grass fires were reported burning in the area around Browning and on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana. The fires stretch from about 3 miles north of Browning to 20 miles south of Browning. The fires are believed to have been started by power lines knocked down by high winds. The Cut Bank Creek / Boarding School Fire has burned over 4,000 acres of grasslands northeast of Browning, and the 6,000 acre Y Fire south of Browning has destroyed seven structures and threatens 15 more. Powerful winds continue to make conditions extremely hazardous as the fires move eastward.
Officials are evacuating residents in the area as the fires continue to burn. As of midnight approximately 100 residents had been evacuated, including 73 children from the Blackfeet Boarding Dormitory in the community of Blackfoot Country. The Blackfeet Tribe declared a state of emergency due to the fires, and a shelter has been opened for its residents at the Tribal Business Office. An unconfirmed report states that at least one Hutterite colony has been evacuated. Media reports additional shelters open at the Cut Bank Moose Lodge and Cut Bank Civic Center. The American Red Cross is en route to the area.
The Montana Department of Transportation reported that U.S. Highway 2 from the Highway 89 junction in Browning to Cut Bank at mile marker 253 was closed due to nearby flames. Fire crews from surrounding communities, Glacier National Park, and U.S. Customs Border Protection are assisting in the firefight. Burlington Railroad will provide tanker support when the railway opens. No injuries have been reported. No Federal assistance has been requested.
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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