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National Situation Update: Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

National Weather Forecast

West
A high pressure ridge will build over the West, which will stop encroaching Pacific storms far to the north.

The next Pacific weather system will move into the Northwest with a few rain and snow showers on Wednesday, February 27, 2008.

South
Rain and thunderstorms will move across the South and Southeast through Tuesday, February 26, 2008, as a cold front moves through.

The main difference with this system is that rainfall will generally be light, and severe weather will not be as prolific, compared with recent storms.

Rainfall amounts should be around ¼-of-an-inch-or-less, with a few isolated areas receiving about ½-of-an-inch.

Georgia and Florida may see a few severe thunderstorms Tuesday, February 26, 2008, as the cold front moves through.

Tuesday night, February 26, 2008, and Wednesday, February 27, 2008, will have wintry conditions across parts of the Southeast, with snow flurries possible as far south as Alabama and Georgia, including the Atlanta area, with a gradual moderating trend thereafter.

Midwest
Illinois to Ohio will have a fresh coating of snow on Tuesday morning, February 26, 2008.

The heaviest snow should fall along the I-90 corridor from Chicago, IL, to Cleveland, OH, before heading eastward.

Gusty winds and snow showers will prevail from the Mississippi Valley eastward the morning of February 26, 2008, with a gradual clearing by late in the day.

Parts of northern Indiana and western Michigan will see lake effect snow as cold air moves across the Great Lakes and allows temperatures to fall.

An Alberta Clipper will produce light snow across the Upper Midwest on February 28, 2008.

Northeast 
Major East Coast cities will see mainly rain, but cities like New York and Boston may see frozen precipitation at onset.

From central New York through Northern New England, it should be mostly snow, mixing with sleet.

Accumulations of six-to-twelve-inches are likely through this region.

Parts of southern New York and northern Pennsylvania will see a wintry mix, however.

The storm will intensify by Wednesday, February 27, 2008, as it heads offshore.

Snow will continue across Maine and downwind of the Great Lakes, as cold air rushes in on the heels of a northwest wind.

Thursday, February 28, 2008, will remain cold and temperatures moderate a bit by Friday, February 29, 2008, as some snow moves into the region.  (NWS, Media Sources)

Midwest Flooding

Idaho
Madison, Lincoln and Gooding Counties issued local disaster declarations, due to potential flooding.

Snow accumulation on roadways is obstructing emergency vehicle passage in Bear Lake, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Fremont, Lewis and Shoshone counties.

The State currently has 14 declared counties on the State Declaration for Severe Winter Weather and Snow.

Indiana
Water levels along the Kankakee River continue to fall.

Another storm system is expected to impact the area early this week, leading to potentially light to moderate rainfall across the basin.

Water levels are expected to rise tonight and Tuesday in accordance with expected rainfall.

Moderate flooding is occurring and is expected to continue for the Tippecanoe River in Oswego County.

Illinois
Moderate flooding is occurring and is expected to continue for the Illinois River in Henry, La Grange, Meredosia and Valley City Counties. (NWS)

Wildfires Crop Up Across Texas On Day Of "Critical" Fire Danger

Firefighters across West and Central Texas battled wildfires that burned about 183,000 acres on Monday, February 25, 2008, and forced the town of Robert Lee - about 1,500 people - to be evacuated, an official with the Texas Forest Service said.

About 100-to-150-residents of the small town were settling in at the gymnasium of the Bronte School District, where cots were being set up for the evacuees.

"They basically came with just themselves and their children," the Bronte School District Superintendent said.  Some brought their pets.

Many of those who evacuated were gathered in the auditorium.  The Superintendent said they were working to get the families and elderly settled into the gymnasium.

Bronte is about 12 miles from Robert Lee.

A fire of about 4,000 acres in Coke County caused the Robert Lee evacuation, said an information officer for Texas Forest Service.

Fires across the state included about 30,000 acres in Sterling County; about 7,000 acres in Archer County; about 3,520 acres in Callahan County; and about 500 acres in Mason County.

Some homes were evacuated near the town of Cottonwood in Callahan County and near Mason in Mason County.

Earlier in the day, February 25, 2008, about 200 homes were evacuated in Odessa due to a wildfire.  Those residents were allowed back home by early evening, said a spokeswoman for the city of Odessa.  The fire, which moved south of the communities, has burned between 4,500 and 5,000 acres, said the spokeswoman.

Strong winds and warm temperatures fueled the wildfires in mostly rural areas of West Texas, as the fire danger was classified as "extremely critical" by the National Weather Service.

Firefighters were battling blazes in 40-50 mph winds throughout several counties, but mostly away from populated areas, said the Midland Fire Chief.

"So far we've been fortunate," he said.

The wildfire warning was in effect because of forecasts calling for strong winds and low humidity in western and central Texas, ideal conditions for the spread of wildfires.  Wildfires have burned about 100,000 acres and destroyed about 60 homes and other structures in the past month.

Two years ago, numerous outbreaks scorched 2.25 million acres statewide, and killed 20 people.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2745-TX was issued for Odessa Fire in the city of Odessa, TX (population 90,950), was approved on February 25, 2008, at 7:57 PM EST.

• 560 people voluntary evacuated.
• 200 residents currently threatened.
• Roads, buildings, infrastructure threatened.
• 19 large, uncontrolled fires currently burning in the state.
• Winds currently from the north at 22 mph, gusting to 32 mph with 10% humidity.
• 0% containment.
• The fire started on February 25, 2008, and has burned in excess of 3,000 acres of State and private land.

FMAG-2746-OK was issued for South Woodward County Fire in the cities of Sharon and Vici, OK (population 300 and 800, respectively), was approved on February 25, 2008, at 10:40 PM EST.

• 1,100 people evacuated.
• 365 homes threatened.
• Winds currently from the north at 25 mph, gusting to 41 mph with 50% humidity.
• The fire started on February 25, 2008, and has burned between 8,000-to-10,000-acres of land.

FMAG-2747-TX was issued for Silver Fire in the city of Robert Lee, TX (population 1,500), was approved on February 25, 2008, at 10:42 PM EST.

• 1,500 people evacuated.
• 500 homes threatened.
• Winds currently from the north at 23 mph, gusting to 31 mph with 9% humidity.
• The fire started on February 25, 2008, and has burned between 3,000 acres of land.  (FEMA HQ)

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Nevada
At 6:16 a.m. PST, February 21, 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 6.0-magnitude earthquake, 11 miles east-southeast of Wells, Nevada, near the Utah border, at a depth of 6.2 miles.

State and local officials have hired structural engineers, who are currently reviewing previously "red-tagged" structures in Wells, to assure the safety of those buildings in preparation for reoccupancy.

State EOC is back to normal operations.

State is planning to provide recovery assistance to individuals through State disaster programs.

PDA teams briefed the Nevada Department of Emergency Management (DEM) leadership at 9:00 a.m. PST today, February 25, 2008, on the results of their assessment.

All FEMA mobile assets released and are on their way back to base.

ERT-A demobilized February 25, 2008.

No federal assets requested. (State of NV Office of Emergency Management, PDA team, ERT-A Leader, USGS, FEMA Region IX)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Texas:  The Governor of Texas is requesting a major disaster declaration as a result of an existing extreme fire hazard beginning on January 7, 2008 and continuing.  The request includes Individual Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Public Assistance (Categories A&B), including direct Federal assistance, at 100 percent Federal Funding for 184 counties. (FEMA HQ)