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National Situation Update: Thursday, January 17, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A High Wind Warning is in effect until 3:00 p.m. PST today for the canyons and passes of Southern California's Santa Ana Mountains and foothills.  Northeast winds will strengthen with gusts to 80 mph through the afternoon.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 2:00 p.m. MST today for the Lower Colorado River Valley area as well as lower elevations of Southern California.  Temperatures will range from the 40s in the Pacific Northwest to the 60s in Southern California. 

Midwest:
An area of low pressure developing along a cold front will produce snow from Kansas and northwest Missouri to Iowa and Wisconsin through the day.  Accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are possible from central and northeastern Iowa to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Temperatures will range from the single digits in Minnesota to the 30s in Ohio. 

Northeast:
Light snowfall is forecast across interior portions of the northeast today.  Up to 6 inches of snow is expected in northern New England.  Temperatures should range from the 30s in New England to the 40s across the Mid-Atlantic States. 

South:
Winter Weather Advisories, Winter Storm Watches, and Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for much of the southeastern United States through this afternoon.  Temperatures should range from the 30s in the Carolinas to the low 80s in south Florida. (NWS, Media Sources)

Midwest Flooding Update

Flooding conditions continue to improve along portions of the Illinois, Kankakee, and Tippecanoe Rivers.  FEMA Region V Individual Assistance PDAs are ongoing in Indiana and Illinois.  FEMA Region V reports no additional changes to the region's flooding conditions.  (FEMA Region V)

Earth Quake at Mount St. Helens

A magnitude 2.9 earthquake occurred at Mount St. Helens on Sunday, September 13, 2008.  This earthquake was followed by tremors lasting a couple of hours.  These earthquakes produced steam which seeped from a fracture atop the lava dome.  The earthquakes and seeping steam are typical signs that magma, superheated gases or both are moving through conduits beneath St. Helens, which erupted in May 1980.  This is the mountain's first noteworthy seismic activity since 2004.  No evacuations had been ordered by Wednesday, because the seismic activity had slowed down.  The precise cause of the recent activity was not clear. (USGS, 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

A JFO has opened, as of January 16, 2008, in Carson, NV in support of Major Disaster Declaration FEMA 1738-DR. (FEMA HQ)