Friday, December 2, 2011

[FEMA]

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

Significant National Weather:

West
The significant Santa Ana wind event occurring over California is expected to continue until Saturday. Hurricane force winds, up to 75 mph, are possible at higher elevations. The strong winds will help to decrease relative humidity across portions of California; Red Flag Warnings will remain effect through this evening. Light to moderate snow, up to a foot, is expected across portions of Arizona and New Mexico before the system exits the region this evening. Light snow will continue over the Northern Rockies today.
Midwest
A widespread mix of rain and snow, associated with the system exiting the Southwest, will move into the Central Plains tonight. The snow will spread from western Kansas into the Midwest this afternoon and overnight.
Northeast
A fast moving cold front will produce a few snow showers over northern New York and portions of New England this morning. A mix of rain and snow will move into this area before the storm system ends this afternoon. The remainder of the region will be dry with seasonal temperatures.
South
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected over portions of Oklahoma and Texas. A mix of rain and snow is also possible along the Panhandle of Texas through this evening.
High Wind Events

California
The significant Santa Ana wind event across California has produced widespread power outages across southern and central California and the San Francisco Bay area. Approximately 200,000 customers are without power and restoration activities are ongoing. (FEMA R9, as of 8:00 pm EST on Dec 1, 2011) Four firefighters have been injured but no fatalities have been reported. (Media report) On December 1st, the Mayor of Los Angeles County declared a local State of Emergency. The Southern Region EOC was activated at 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning in support of LA County, and the State EOC is partially activated.Â* The CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pre-positioned resources in LA County.Â* One ARC shelter is open with no occupants. FEMA Region IX remains at normal operations.(Region IX)
Utah
High Wind Warnings are also in effect for portions of Utah. Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber counties have reported downed trees, power outages, property damages and impacts to transportation.Â* Over 50,000 customers are reported without power; restoration could take 48 hrs. A local State of Emergency was declared for Centerville, UT. At least 11 semi trucks were blown over on Interstate 15, north of Salt Lake City. Two American Red Cross shelters are scheduled to open when winds die down. Davis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated.Â* The State EOC is monitoring. FEMA Region VIII remains at normal operations. No FEMA assistance has been requested.Â*
Texas Groundwater at Record Lows

According to the NASA Earth Observatory, the severe drought in Texas that has produced wildfires, destroyed crops, and forced the sale of cattle herds has also reduced levels of groundwater to the lowest levels observed in more than 63 years. Groundwater is moisture trapped in pores in the soil and in underground gaps in rock, often known as aquifers.
At the end of November 2011, groundwater supplies were extremely depleted in more than half of Texas, as well as parts of New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. According to hydrologists from NASA and the National Drought Mitigation Center, the groundwater will take months to be recharged. Even if there was a major rainfall event, it is expected that the water would run off. It will take a long period of sustained, greater than average precipitation to recharge the aquifers significantly.
Since 1948, scientists have used long-term meteorological data and water storage observations in a computer model which generates a continuous record of soil moisture and groundwater. The map above depicts the amount of groundwater stored underground in the continental United States on November 28, 2011, as compared to the long-term average from 1948 to 2011. Deep reds reveal the most depletion, with deep blues representing aquifers and soils that are nearly full. The maroon shading over eastern Texas, for example, shows that the ground has been this dry less than two percent of the time between 1948 and the present.
The state of Texas received between 16 to 23 inches of rain for the year, which is 15.5 inches below normal. Residents relying on the groundwater will need to prepare for a continuation of drought conditions for the next few months due to the continuation of La Nina conditions which typically produces warmer, drier weather across the South.
For more information visit: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=76575&src=imgrss and www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=DGTHGX
Space Weather:

No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours and 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)
Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)


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