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National Situation Update: Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West: 
Rain is forecast for western Washington and most of western Oregon today, while western Montana and far western Wyoming will experience some rain and mountain snow.

A Snow Advisory will be in effect until 11:00 a.m. PDT for the northern and central Cascades.  Snow accumulation may reach six to twelve inches in the northern Cascades with another two to four inches expected in the central Cascades.

Wind Advisories are in effect until 6:00 p.m. PDT today for 30 to 45 mph southwest winds, gusting to 65 mph in western Washington and just east of the Continental Divide in Montana and Wyoming.

High temperatures will range from the 30s in the Rockies to the 80s in southeast California and southwest Arizona.

South:
Light to moderate rain and isolated thunderstorms are forecast over the lower Mississippi Valley, west Texas, areas of the Gulf Coast, south Georgia and Florida for today; however, the storm's intensity is expected to be minimal.
 
Temperatures at most locations in the southern U.S. will be seasonable with highs ranging from the 50s in northeast Arkansas, Tennessee, and western North Carolina to near 80 in areas of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Midwest:
An upper-air disturbance will cause light snow and flurries over the upper Midwest.  The lower Midwest and Plains are expected to remain dry.

High temperatures will be in the 30s and 40s around the Great Lakes and in the 70s for most of western Kansas.

Northeast:
Western Pennsylvania and northwest West Virginia may see light snow, while the rest of the northeastern U.S. will be dry with seasonable temperatures.

Highs are expected to range from the 20s in far northern Maine to the 60s in southeast Virginia. (NWS, Media Sources)

Flooding Update

Midwest
Continued warm temperatures may cause significant flooding due to snowmelt runoff as the week progresses.  The Rock River near Joslin, Illinois should fall to minor flood level by Wednesday, March 12, 2008.  In addition to snowmelt, ice jams may cause levels to rise later in the week.  The Illinois River at Havana, Illinois will continue to fall below moderate flood level over the next several days.

Northeast
The Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers will continue to recede and are forecast to fall below flood stage by late today. Rivers and streams flooding across southern New England have either crested or near crest, with the exception of the lower Connecticut River which continues to rise. (NWS)

Space Shuttle Launch

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour (STS-123) launched successfully from Kennedy Space Center, Florida at 2:28 a.m. EDT today.  The weather did not affect the launch.  The Endeavour is the 25th shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS), and is carrying a Japanese lab section and Canadian-built robot for ISS.  During the 16-day mission (the longest mission so far), the crew's two primary objectives are to deliver and attach to ISS Japan's new laboratory called "Kibo," and Canada's new robotics system, the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or "Dextre."

The seven-man Endeavour crew includes Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson, Mission Specialists Richard Linnehan, Robert L. Behnken, Michael Foreman, Garrett Reisman and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi.  Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Leopold Eyharts, who arrived at ISS aboard Atlantis in February, 2008, will return to Earth with the Endeavour crew as Reisman takes his place on the station.  The Endeavour is scheduled to return to Kennedy Space Center at 8:35 a.m. EDT Wednesday, March 26, 2008. (NASA, DHS/NOC, Media Sources, FEMA Region IV)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No 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

Tennessee:  Amendment #4 to Major Disaster Declaration 1745-DR (dated February 7, 2008) was issued March 10, 2008 to include McNairy (already designated for Public Assistance), Tipton and Wayne Counties for Individual Assistance due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in Tennessee February 5-6, 2008.  (FEMA HQ)