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National Situation Update: Friday, December 28, 2007

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West
Through the weekend, a persistent moist Pacific storm track will continue to bring systems into the chilly West.  Snow levels will rise to 1500 feet in western Washington Friday, December 28 before lowering back to a few hundred feet by Sunday, December 30 and Monday, December 31. Snow levels in northern California will inch up to 4500 feet by Saturday, December 29 before lowering again.

Rain impacts Washington, Oregon and the sections of California Friday, December 28 and Saturday, December 29, snow will continue in the Cascades, Sierras and Rockies. The Cascades could add 1 to 2 feet of snow.  Early week, strong gusty winds in mountain passes and canyons south and west of the high-pressure center in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington.

Northeast
Snow will move into New York and New England Friday night December 28, 2007.  A rain/snow mix. (more rain and minimal snow) develops across southern New York and southern New England. 
Rain will exit the Mid-Atlantic Saturday morning December 29 while snow is slow to end across the northern reaches of New York and New England.

Sunday, December 30 and Monday, December 31, low pressure from the Great Lakes will move across the region, producing snow across Pennsylvania, New York and New England

Midwest
A weaker and less windy version of last weekend's storm will move from Louisiana to the Great Lakes Friday, December 28.

Snow will impact from Kansas, Wisconsin and Michigan during Friday, December 28.  Accumulations of 1 to 4 inches of snow are forecast but a few towns in Kansas and Lower Michigan could see up to 7 inches.

Rain and thunderstorm will move eastward from Missouri to Pennsylvania and West Virginia by evening. Rainfall will be generally a half inch or less except locally near 1 inch in eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio.  After the storm exits eastward, the Midwest will be quiet Saturday, December 29 except for flurries and snow showers from North Dakota to the Great Lakes.

Sunday, December 30, and Monday, December 31, low pressure will move from the Dakotas into the Northeast, dusting the north-central states and Great Lakes with a few inches of snow.
 
South
A cold front will move across the South Friday, December 28 into Saturday, December 29, stalling along the Gulf Coast and Florida. The front will be accompanied by rain and potentially strong thunderstorms. The Tennessee Valley and the Florida Panhandle have the best chance for near 1 inch of rain.
North of the stalled front, an upper-level disturbance will move across the South Sunday December 30 producing 1-to-2-inchs of rain from Louisiana to North Carolina. (National Weather Service)

Ice Jams Might Cause Alaskan River Flooding

Emergency response personnel continue to monitor the Kenai River in Alaska as slushy ice jams potentially threaten low-lying areas with flooding.  Cold temperatures are causing a build up and the water will back up behind it and eventually release.  During February, 2007, ice jams put several feet of water over roads at the Big Eddy area of the river, sending huge icebergs up and over fish walks, stairways and fishing platforms, and demolishing almost everything in its path. Recent minor flooding was reported in the area, and a small-stream flood advisory was issued by National Weather Service. (Media Source)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No new activity to report. (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico/Eastern Pacific/Central Pacific:
Tropical Cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours.

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

Earthquake Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

Nebraska: Public Assistance PDAs for eight counties began on December 27, 2007.
Kansas: Public Assistance PDAs for 37 counties will begin on December 28, 2007. (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

The President signed a Disaster Declaration, FEMA-1736-DR, for severe winter storms in Missouri December  6, 2007 and continuing. 42 counties are eligible for Public Assistance, including Direct Federal Assistance and Hazard Mitigation, statewide. The FCO will be Michael L. Parker. (FEMA HQ)