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National Situation Update: Sunday, December 23, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
A cold front approaching the Pacific Northwest coast will dissipate tonight, bringing temporary relief from widespread precipitation to the area.  A second storm system is expected today, bringing rain to lower elevations and snow to higher elevations in the Pacific Northwest.  Conditions will begin to improve Sunday afternoon as the front moves inland across the northern Rockies.  A High Wind Watch was issued by the National Weather Service for Ventura County and Los Angeles County, CA.  Conditions remain favorable for Santa Ana winds across Southern California.  Although temperatures will remain in the 60s it will continue to be very dry with windy conditions.   There are no fire advisories in effect for Southern California for the next 24 to 36 hours.  Critical fire conditions are possible for Tuesday, December 25, 2007. 

Midwest
The winter storm that emerged early Saturday from the southern Rocky Mountains, spreading snow and high winds eastward over the southern Great Plains, will shift northeast out of Missouri to spread across eastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota and much of Wisconsin.  Western Upper Michigan and northeastern Minnesota is expected to see heavy snowfall.  Snowfall of 6 to 12 inches is expected by Monday morning from northeastern Iowa and stretching beyond Lake Superior to Ontario, Canada.
Much colder air will replace the mild air that had settled over the region over the past several days. 

South
An advancing cold front moving into the south will bring cool, cloudy air from the Carolinas as far south as Florida and as far west as Tennessee and Alabama.  Because of the front's rapid movement eastward, significant drought relief to the exceptional drought areas is not expected.  Rainfall totals are only expected to be about a half-inch in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, and Raleigh, NC.  Scattered strong thunderstorms are possible along and ahead of the front in eastern North Carolina Sunday afternoon and evening, with high winds possible.

Northeast
Warmer southeast winds off the Atlantic Ocean blowing over colder, snow-covered ground could produce a large area of low clouds, fog and drizzle Sunday morning from the mid-Atlantic to Southern New England.  The strong cold front should arrive into the Appalachians by midday today.  A band of heavy rain is expected from Upstate New York to Virginia Sunday afternoon and evening ahead of the advancing front.  There is a potential for thunderstorms embedded in this rain band from the Delaware Valley to southern Virginia.  1 to 2 inches of rain is possible Sunday from Upstate New York to central Pennsylvania.  Flood watches have been posted over concern that this heavy rainfall will accelerate the melting of existing snowpack, leading to local flash flooding.  The rapid movement of the cold front should limit the extent and severity of flooding on Sunday.  High Wind Warnings are in effect for Upstate New York, Vermont, western Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut.  A High Wind Watch is in effect for the Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania and most all of coastal New England.  (National Weather Service, Media Sources)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico/Eastern Pacific/Central Pacific:
A low pressure system is presently in the Atlantic extending to Cuba, almost 700 miles off the coast of Florida.  The low pressure system is supported by a long-wave trough running along the Central Atlantic.  This system is moving in a northwest direction and is expected to dissipate.

Western Pacific:
No current tropical cyclone warnings. ( NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center)

Earthquake Activity

Multiple earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 3.0 to 4.2 continued in the Aleutian Islands Region, in the area of Adak, AK within the last 24 hours.  No reports of damage or injury and no tsunami warnings were generated. (USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)