Monday, March 21, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Japan Recovery Support Operations

A FEMA National IMAT Support Cell, composed of the National-IMAT-East and personnel from the National-IMAT-Central, remains activated in support of the EPA air monitoring mission. FEMA Liaisons are supporting EPA and USAID.
Significant National Weather

Northeast
The storm system exiting the Midwest will begin approaching the Northeast today bringing showers and a few strong thunderstorms to the Mid-Atlantic before continuing east this evening. Snow accumulations over six inches are possible in parts of northern New England, especially the mountains and northern Maine.
South
Most of the region will remain warm and dry today. High temperatures will vary from average to 20 degrees above average. South to southwest winds will increase across the Southern Plains increasing the risk of wild land fire across western portions of Texas and Oklahoma where Critical Fire Weather conditions are expected this morning.
Flood Warnings remain in effect along the Mississippi River in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana due to recent heavy rain. A cold front will move into the Southern Plains by Tuesday. Severe thunderstorms across Oklahoma and northern portions of Texas and Arkansas are possible with this system.
Midwest
A slow moving system will produce widespread precipitation from the Northern and Central Plains to the Ohio Valley through Wednesday. Rain will gradually change to freezing rain and accumulating snow across the Upper Midwest. Severe thunderstorms are possible in portions of the Central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley; these storms may produce quarter to golf ball sized hail and heavy downpours.
Snow melt flooding is expected in the Dakotas and Minnesota. In South Dakota, river levels range from Minor to Major Flood Stage along the James, Vermillion and Big and Little Sioux Rivers.Â* Additional rain and warmer temperatures are expected to keep river levels high in South Dakota over the next few days. Minor to moderate flooding continues at many locations along the Ohio River in southern Illinois and western Kentucky, with major flooding reported at Cairo.Â* River levels are beginning to fall in most areas; however, flooding is expected to continue over the next couple of days. Strong winds combined with low humidity will result in Extremely Critical Fire Weather areas today for extreme southwestern Kansas and Critical Fire Weather for western Kansas.
West
Scattered showers and thunderstorms across central and southern California are expected to end later this morning as the system moves east into the Rockies. Heavy snow is forecast in southern Sierra with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible in higher elevations.Â* Strong winds combined with low humidity and high temperatures will result in Extremely Critical Fire Weather today for central and northern New Mexico and far southern Colorado and Critical Fire Weather for eastern Colorado, southeastern Arizona and most of New Mexico.Â*Â* Flood Warnings remain in effect for portions of northern and central California due to heavy rain in recent burn areas.(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)Â*
Preliminary Damage Assessments

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are underway in the following states: New Jersey and Mississippi.


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