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National Situation Update: Friday, December 7, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Pacific Northwest Winter Storms and Flooding

Parts of Interstate 5 will remain closed until Saturday, December 8th, 2007, due to standing water.  Inspection of the roadway for serviceability will start again at that time. The freeway is not expected to reopen to passenger vehicles until crews replace barriers and make other repairs. The affected counties in WA state report continuing progress in clearing roads, restoring power and communications.  American Red Cross reporting Washington with 11 shelters open with 204 overnight stays. Oregon had 7 shelters with 195 stays. Oregon counties have moved into recovery phase. Most counties reporting damage assessments under way and steady progress in restoring services. Oregon and Washington state emergency operations centers will remain activated at the highest levels.

Southern California Burn Area Weather Forecast

12/06-07/07
Flash Flood and High Wind Watches are in effect. A strong, low pressure system is approaching the west coast, and will sweep through southern California December 6-8, 2007.  Rain is expected over the northern burn areas beginning in the evening of December 6, 2007, and southern burn areas beginning early on December 7, 2007.  Rain will turn to snow at higher elevations on December 8, 2007, with rain and snow showers continuing over the burn areas through December 9, 2007. Rainfall will range from: One-half-to-one-inch in coastal areas and one-to-three inches in foothills and mountains, with more favored locations in the mountains possibly reaching four inches of rain. Flash flood watches are in effect for all the burn areas. Snow levels will initially be above 7,000 feet, but drop to near 4,000 feet by late on December 8, 2007. Winds will be strong and gusty with the storm's passage.  Wind speeds may reach 70 mph at higher elevations. Conditions will return to normal December 10-11, 2007.  A weak-to-moderate offshore flow also will develop during this period. (National Weather Service WFO - Los Angeles/Oxnard)

Hawaii

The impact of the severe weather that passed over the Hawaiian Islands resulted in power outages, flooding and damage to public infrastructure, homes and business throughout the State.  No federal assistance has been requested at this time.

Significant National Weather

West
A storm system pushes southward along the California coast Friday then stalls off Baja California in northern Mexico through the weekend. Rain moves into Southern California during the early hours of Friday morning and lets up during the afternoon. Most areas could pick up another inch of rain with the hillier terrain around Los Angeles and San Diego getting an inch or more of rain. Flash flood watches have been posted in Southern California, mainly for the burn areas, through Friday afternoon. The Southern California moisture spreads into the Southwest and Rockies Friday afternoon and lasts through at least Monday as the storm stalls off the Mexican coast.

South
High pressure dominates the South through the weekend keeping the area mainly dry with moderating temperatures. Another chilly night is anticipated tonight over the Southeast with lows in the upper 20s to lower 40s, but the southern Plains and Gulf Coast should be milder with lows mostly in the 50s and 60s.  High temperatures warm 5 to 15 degrees Friday with afternoon readings ranging from the upper 50s north to the upper 70s along the Gulf coast and in Florida.

Northeast
A weakening clipper-type storm system passes through the Northeast with light snow to the north and a few showers south Friday. Most areas that see snow should only accumulate 1 to 3 inches before the system passes out to sea. The I-95 corridor should see mainly rain from central New Jersey south, while northern New Jersey to Boston has snow at the start, but could see a mix with or change over to rain Friday afternoon. Light rain and snow showers linger into Saturday with a bigger storm expected to impact the region with snow, ice and rain late in the weekend and early next week.

Midwest
Very cold air from the Canadian high will be in place over the northern/central Plains and most of the Midwest and Great Lakes to produce mainly wintry precipitation (snow, sleet and ice) with chilly showers expected in the Ohio Valley.  Some sections of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois could see significant icing Saturday through Monday.  There should be a band of light to moderate snowfall in the deeper cold air to the north. Several inches of snow could pile up from South Dakota east to Michigan and south through Wisconsin and Iowa. (NWS, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)