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National Situation Update: Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Forecast

Northeast:  Weather conditions will calm down today across the Northeast. Snow showers and strong winds will continue across parts of northern New England. The calm will be short-lived as a "Alberta Clipper" begins to affect the region by late in the day. Snow showers will break out around the eastern Great Lakes and snow will increase overnight. Strong winds and snow mixed with rain will affect areas around the East Coast by Thanksgiving morning. A general snowfall will occur on Thanksgiving morning along the interior from western New York to western New England so many areas will have a snow cover. Behind this clipper, winter will roar in with a vengeance as winds increase, temperatures drop and lake-effect snow develops. Look for very heavy snow amounts east of Cleveland to Erie and south of Buffalo. Areas north of Syracuse will also see heavy snow and many of these areas will have blizzard conditions at times with snow measured in feet. High temperatures in the 20s and 30s will be common across the region by Thanksgiving, with a few low 40s around the coast.

Midwest:  A "Alberta Clipper" storm will sweep into the Great Lakes today resulting in widespread snow. Strong winds may produce blizzard conditions in some areas. This system may produce significant snowfall from northern Wisconsin through Michigan to northern Ohio, with some rain and snow mixed from northern Illinois to Kentucky. Behind the storm, arctic air will enter the region reducing temperatures. Heavy lake-effect snow will develop over Michigan's U. P. by evening and over western lower Michigan and northern Indiana by tonight. Parts of northern Michigan may see 1 to 2 feet of snow from this event and northern Indiana may pick up nearly a foot of snow. Thanksgiving will be very cold and windy, with lake-effect snow continuing. Because of the strong winds, bands of snow will extend much more inland as compared to a regular event. These lake snows will even reach south of the Ohio River but accumulations will be much lighter there.

South:  It will be a cool today across the Southeast. Highs across the southern Appalachians will only reach the 40s and 50s but look for 70s in most of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Much of Florida will be in the cool 60s. There will be a few rain and snow showers in the higher elevations of the Carolinas. Thanksgiving Day will feature warmer temperatures in the Southeast leading to a chilly Friday.

West:  Many basins and valleys in the Pacific Northwest will continue to be foggy today. Expect some travel problems, especially south and east of Seattle, including the Willamette Valley, the Columbia Basin and the Flathead Valley. High temperatures will range from the 30s in portions of the Northwest and Rockies to the low 80s in the Sonoran Desert. Highs in the 70s will warm the lower elevations of California.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Wildfire Update

 As of the latest national update on November 18, 2005, the National Preparedness Level was at 1 - the lowest state of readiness.  (California Office of Emergency Services, USFS, NIFC, NICC)

Tropical Activity

In the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, tropical storm formation is not expected.

In the Pacific, tropical storm formation is not expected.  (National Hurricane Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Nothing significant to report in the U.S. or U.S. territories.

Mount St. Helens is in the news due to recent rock slide activity. The lava dome continues to grow and is accompanied by low rates of seismic activity. Ash, steam and gas emissions continue. Changes in activity can occur over days, months, or with little or no warning.  Under current conditions, small, short-lived explosions may produce ash clouds that exceed 30,000 feet in altitude. Crews are in the field today to finish winterizing the newly installed tiltmeter and to make airborne gas measurements.  (USGS, NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The Governor of the State of Iowa submitted a letter requesting a major disaster declaration. Specifically the Governor requested Individual Assistance, including the Individuals and Households Program, Other Needs Assistance Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Hazard Mitigation (Statewide), Small Business Administration Disaster Load Programs, and all appropriate U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance programs for the counties of Boone, Dallas, Hamilton, Story, Webster, and contiguous counties.

• On November 12, a severe weather system passed through Central Iowa spawning eight tornadoes. Preliminary assessments estimate the tornado in Woodward had winds of 113-157 mph (F2), and the tornado in Stratford had winds of 158-206 mph (F3).(FEMA HQ)