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Critical Weather Alert: Black Ice and Wildfire Risks Across the Nation · EM Morning Brief

• 0:00
  Good
• 0:00
  Morning,
• 0:00
  I'm
• 0:00
  Cedric
• 0:01
  and
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  this
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  is
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  your
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  EM
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  Morning
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  Brief
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  for
• 0:03
  Wednesday,
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  February
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  25,
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  2026
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  across
• 0:07
  the
• 0:07
  US
• 0:08
  this
• 0:08
  morning
• 0:08
  the
• 0:08
  top
• 0:09
  hazards
• 0:09
  split
• 0:10
  in
• 0:10
  two
• 0:11
  dangerous
• 0:12
  winter
• 0:12
  travel
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  in
• 0:13
  parts
• 0:13
  of
• 0:13
  the
• 0:13
  Great
• 0:13
  Lakes
• 0:14
  and
• 0:14
  Northeast
• 0:15
  and
• 0:15
  elevated
• 0:16
  wildfire
• 0:16
  risk
• 0:16
  across
• 0:17
  the
• 0:17
  High
• 0:17
  Plains
• 0:17
  and
• 0:18
  South
• 0:18
  central
• 0:18
  states.
• 0:20
  National
• 0:21
  Weather
• 0:21
  Service
• 0:21
  Fire
• 0:22
  weather
• 0:22
  messaging
• 0:22
  highlights
• 0:23
  gusty
• 0:23
  winds
• 0:24
  and
• 0:24
  very
• 0:24
  low
• 0:24
  humidity
• 0:25
  that
• 0:25
  can
• 0:25
  turn
• 0:26
  a
• 0:26
  spark
• 0:26
  into
• 0:26
  a
• 0:27
  fast
• 0:27
  moving
• 0:27
  grass
• 0:28
  fire.
• 0:29
  Many
• 0:29
  areas
• 0:29
  are
• 0:30
  under
• 0:30
  red
• 0:30
  flag
• 0:30
  warnings
• 0:31
  today.
• 0:32
  At
• 0:32
  the
• 0:32
  same
• 0:33
  time,
• 0:33
  light
• 0:33
  snow
• 0:34
  and
• 0:34
  refreeze
• 0:34
  are
• 0:35
  creating
• 0:35
  slick
• 0:35
  roads
• 0:36
  and
• 0:36
  black
• 0:36
  ice
• 0:37
  concerns
• 0:38
  in
• 0:38
  the
• 0:38
  Northeast
• 0:39
  as
• 0:39
  communities
• 0:40
  keep
• 0:40
  digging
• 0:40
  out
• 0:40
  from
• 0:41
  earlier
• 0:41
  heavy
• 0:42
  snowfall.
• 0:43
  In
• 0:43
  Florida,
• 0:44
  a
• 0:44
  large
• 0:44
  wildfire
• 0:45
  inside
• 0:45
  Big
• 0:45
  Cypress
• 0:46
  National
• 0:46
  Preserve
• 0:47
  is
• 0:47
  producing
• 0:47
  smoke
• 0:48
  impacts
• 0:48
  and
• 0:49
  area
• 0:49
  closures.
• 0:51
  Separately,
• 0:51
  Federal
• 0:52
  Emergency
• 0:52
  Management
• 0:53
  capacity
• 0:53
  is
• 0:54
  a
• 0:54
  watch
• 0:54
  item.
• 0:54
  The
• 0:55
  Department
• 0:55
  of
• 0:55
  Homeland
• 0:56
  Security
• 0:56
  says
• 0:56
  FEMA
• 0:57
  is
• 0:57
  operating
• 0:57
  in
• 0:57
  a
• 0:58
  scaled
• 0:58
  back
• 0:58
  posture
• 0:59
  during
• 0:59
  the
• 0:59
  ongoing
• 0:59
  DHS
• 1:00
  funding
• 1:00
  shutdown,
• 1:02
  limiting
• 1:02
  work
• 1:02
  to
• 1:02
  bare
• 1:03
  minimum
• 1:03
  life
• 1:04
  saving
• 1:04
  operations.
• 1:05
  Let's
• 1:06
  run
• 1:06
  through
• 1:06
  the
• 1:06
  states.
• 1:07
  California's
• 1:08
  near
• 1:08
  term
• 1:09
  focus
• 1:09
  remains
• 1:09
  storm
• 1:10
  recovery
• 1:10
  support
• 1:11
  and
• 1:11
  wet
• 1:11
  weather
• 1:12
  impacts.
• 1:13
  Cal
• 1:14
  OES
• 1:14
  says
• 1:14
  the
• 1:14
  state
• 1:15
  is
• 1:15
  coordinating
• 1:15
  with
• 1:16
  local
• 1:16
  partners
• 1:16
  to
• 1:17
  ensure
• 1:17
  sheltering
• 1:18
  and
• 1:18
  vital
• 1:18
  services
• 1:19
  for
• 1:19
  communities
• 1:19
  impacted
• 1:20
  by
• 1:20
  the
• 1:20
  mid
• 1:21
  February
• 1:21
  storms
• 1:22
  and
• 1:22
  it
• 1:23
  directs
• 1:23
  residents
• 1:24
  to
• 1:24
  local
• 1:24
  authorities
• 1:25
  for
• 1:25
  shelter
• 1:25
  operations.
• 1:28
  National
• 1:28
  weather
• 1:29
  messaging
• 1:29
  also
• 1:29
  continues
• 1:30
  to
• 1:30
  flag
• 1:30
  heavy
• 1:31
  precipitation
• 1:31
  in
• 1:32
  parts
• 1:32
  of
• 1:32
  Northern
• 1:32
  California
• 1:33
  in
• 1:33
  the
• 1:33
  broader
• 1:34
  west
• 1:34
  coast
• 1:34
  storm
• 1:35
  pattern.
• 1:36
  Connecticut
• 1:37
  stays
• 1:37
  in
• 1:37
  winter
• 1:38
  travel
• 1:38
  mode
• 1:38
  this
• 1:39
  morning.
• 1:40
  In
• 1:40
  the
• 1:40
  broader
• 1:41
  Northeast
• 1:41
  system,
• 1:42
  additional
• 1:42
  light
• 1:43
  snow
• 1:43
  and
• 1:43
  refreeze
• 1:44
  are
• 1:44
  creating
• 1:44
  hazardous
• 1:45
  commutes
• 1:45
  and
• 1:45
  pockets
• 1:46
  of
• 1:46
  black
• 1:46
  ice,
• 1:47
  especially
• 1:48
  where
• 1:48
  earlier
• 1:48
  snow
• 1:48
  piles
• 1:49
  and
• 1:49
  melting
• 1:49
  refreeze
• 1:50
  overnight.
• 1:52
  Florida's
• 1:53
  lead
• 1:53
  incident
• 1:53
  is
• 1:54
  wildfire.
• 1:55
  The
• 1:55
  National
• 1:56
  Park
• 1:56
  Service
• 1:56
  reports
• 1:57
  ongoing
• 1:57
  wildfire
• 1:58
  activity
• 1:58
  in
• 1:58
  Big
• 1:59
  Cypress
• 1:59
  National
• 2:00
  Preserve
• 2:00
  is
• 2:00
  expanding
• 2:01
  with
• 2:01
  smoke
• 2:02
  affecting
• 2:02
  major
• 2:02
  roadways
• 2:03
  and
• 2:03
  area
• 2:04
  closures
• 2:04
  in
• 2:04
  place
• 2:04
  for
• 2:05
  firefighter
• 2:05
  and
• 2:06
  public
• 2:06
  safety.
• 2:08
  The
• 2:08
  preserve
• 2:08
  reports
• 2:09
  the
• 2:09
  national
• 2:10
  fire
• 2:10
  at
• 2:10
  roughly
• 2:11
  15,000
• 2:12
  acres
• 2:12
  with
• 2:12
  0%
• 2:13
  containment
• 2:13
  in
• 2:14
  its
• 2:14
  latest
• 2:14
  update.
• 2:16
  Maine
• 2:16
  remains
• 2:16
  in
• 2:17
  post
• 2:17
  storm
• 2:17
  cleanup
• 2:18
  with
• 2:18
  fresh
• 2:18
  light
• 2:19
  snow
• 2:19
  adding
• 2:19
  new
• 2:20
  slick
• 2:20
  spots.
• 2:21
  Regional
• 2:22
  reporting
• 2:22
  notes
• 2:23
  modest
• 2:23
  additional
• 2:24
  accumulation
• 2:24
  on
• 2:25
  top
• 2:25
  of
• 2:25
  earlier
• 2:25
  heavy
• 2:26
  totals
• 2:26
  with
• 2:27
  the
• 2:27
  bigger
• 2:27
  risk
• 2:27
  coming
• 2:28
  from
• 2:28
  melt
• 2:28
  and
• 2:28
  refreeze
• 2:29
  creating
• 2:29
  black
• 2:30
  ice
• 2:31
  plus
• 2:31
  continued
• 2:32
  strain
• 2:32
  on
• 2:32
  snow
• 2:33
  removal
• 2:33
  and
• 2:33
  access
• 2:34
  in
• 2:34
  some
• 2:34
  communities.
• 2:36
  Maryland
• 2:36
  is
• 2:37
  included
• 2:37
  in
• 2:37
  the
• 2:37
  corridor
• 2:38
  still
• 2:38
  dealing
• 2:38
  with
• 2:39
  winter
• 2:39
  impacts,
• 2:40
  additional
• 2:41
  light
• 2:41
  snow
• 2:41
  and
• 2:42
  icy
• 2:42
  conditions
• 2:43
  this
• 2:43
  morning
• 2:43
  on
• 2:44
  top
• 2:44
  of
• 2:44
  earlier
• 2:44
  heavy
• 2:45
  snowfall
• 2:45
  across
• 2:46
  the
• 2:46
  mid
• 2:46
  Atlantic
• 2:47
  into
• 2:47
  New
• 2:47
  England.
• 2:49
  Massachusetts
• 2:50
  continues
• 2:50
  cleanup
• 2:51
  and
• 2:51
  hazardous
• 2:52
  travel
• 2:52
  concerns
• 2:52
  as
• 2:53
  another
• 2:53
  round
• 2:53
  of
• 2:53
  light
• 2:54
  snow
• 2:54
  moves
• 2:54
  through
• 2:55
  the
• 2:55
  region.
• 2:56
  Even
• 2:56
  where
• 2:56
  totals
• 2:57
  are
• 2:57
  modest
• 2:58
  refreeze
• 2:58
  and
• 2:59
  plowed
• 2:59
  snow
• 2:59
  piles
• 3:00
  can
• 3:00
  create
• 3:00
  blocked
• 3:01
  drains,
• 3:01
  icy
• 3:02
  curb
• 3:02
  lanes
• 3:03
  and
• 3:03
  difficult
• 3:03
  pedestrian
• 3:04
  access.
• 3:06
  Michigan
• 3:06
  is
• 3:06
  tracking
• 3:07
  a
• 3:07
  quick
• 3:07
  moving
• 3:07
  clipper
• 3:08
  system
• 3:08
  that
• 3:08
  brings
• 3:09
  light
• 3:09
  to
• 3:09
  moderate
• 3:10
  snow
• 3:10
  and
• 3:11
  a
• 3:11
  slick
• 3:11
  commute
• 3:11
  window
• 3:12
  with
• 3:13
  heavier
• 3:13
  totals
• 3:14
  North
• 3:16
  Local
• 3:16
  reporting
• 3:16
  indicates
• 3:17
  the
• 3:17
  main
• 3:17
  snow
• 3:18
  band
• 3:18
  runs
• 3:18
  late
• 3:19
  afternoon
• 3:19
  through
• 3:19
  late
• 3:20
  evening
• 3:20
  with
• 3:21
  continued
• 3:21
  light
• 3:21
  snow
• 3:22
  into
• 3:22
  Wednesday
• 3:22
  morning
• 3:23
  in
• 3:23
  some
• 3:23
  areas.
• 3:24
  Even
• 3:24
  a
• 3:24
  couple
• 3:25
  inches
• 3:25
  can
• 3:25
  sharply
• 3:26
  cut
• 3:26
  visibility
• 3:27
  during
• 3:27
  bursts.
• 3:28
  New
• 3:29
  Hampshire
• 3:29
  stays
• 3:30
  in
• 3:30
  winter
• 3:30
  hazard
• 3:31
  mode
• 3:31
  with
• 3:31
  additional
• 3:31
  snow
• 3:32
  and
• 3:32
  ongoing
• 3:33
  recovery
• 3:33
  from
• 3:34
  earlier
• 3:34
  heavy
• 3:34
  accumulation
• 3:35
  across
• 3:35
  the
• 3:36
  region.
• 3:37
  The
• 3:37
  main
• 3:37
  day
• 3:38
  to
• 3:38
  day
• 3:38
  risk
• 3:38
  remains
• 3:39
  slick
• 3:39
  travel
• 3:39
  in
• 3:40
  black
• 3:40
  ice
• 3:40
  as
• 3:41
  daytime
• 3:41
  melting
• 3:41
  refreezes
• 3:42
  overnight.
• 3:44
  New
• 3:44
  Jersey's
• 3:45
  commute
• 3:45
  risk
• 3:45
  is
• 3:45
  mainly
• 3:46
  ice
• 3:46
  and
• 3:46
  reduced
• 3:47
  roadway
• 3:47
  capacity
• 3:48
  as
• 3:49
  light
• 3:49
  snow
• 3:49
  adds
• 3:49
  a
• 3:49
  fresh
• 3:50
  layer.
• 3:50
  Untreated
• 3:51
  surfaces,
• 3:51
  especially
• 3:52
  bridges,
• 3:52
  ramps
• 3:53
  and
• 3:53
  shaded
• 3:53
  areas
• 3:54
  can
• 3:54
  freeze
• 3:54
  quickly.
• 3:56
  New
• 3:56
  York
• 3:56
  is
• 3:56
  dealing
• 3:57
  with
• 3:57
  another
• 3:57
  light
• 3:57
  snow
• 3:58
  round
• 3:58
  that
• 3:58
  compounds
• 3:59
  cleanup
• 3:59
  and
• 4:00
  increases
• 4:00
  black
• 4:00
  ice
• 4:01
  risk
• 4:01
  during
• 4:01
  the
• 4:02
  morning
• 4:02
  commute.
• 4:03
  Regional
• 4:04
  reporting
• 4:04
  notes
• 4:05
  modest
• 4:05
  additional
• 4:06
  totals
• 4:06
  but
• 4:07
  significant
• 4:07
  hazards
• 4:08
  were
• 4:08
  melting
• 4:08
  refreezes
• 4:09
  on
• 4:09
  already
• 4:10
  narrowed
• 4:10
  streets
• 4:11
  and
• 4:11
  sidewalks.
• 4:13
  Oklahoma
• 4:14
  continues
• 4:14
  to
• 4:15
  manage
• 4:15
  wildfire
• 4:16
  impacts
• 4:16
  as
• 4:16
  conditions
• 4:17
  stay
• 4:17
  favorable
• 4:18
  for
• 4:18
  fast
• 4:18
  fire
• 4:19
  spread
• 4:19
  in
• 4:19
  parts
• 4:20
  of
• 4:20
  the
• 4:20
  region.
• 4:21
  Local
• 4:21
  reporting
• 4:22
  says
• 4:22
  the
• 4:22
  State
• 4:22
  Emergency
• 4:23
  Operations
• 4:24
  center
• 4:24
  remains
• 4:24
  active
• 4:25
  as
• 4:25
  wildfires
• 4:26
  continue
• 4:26
  to
• 4:27
  affect
• 4:27
  areas
• 4:27
  of
• 4:27
  the
• 4:28
  state
• 4:28
  with
• 4:29
  coordination
• 4:29
  underway
• 4:30
  for
• 4:30
  response
• 4:31
  and
• 4:31
  relief.
• 4:32
  Pennsylvania
• 4:33
  remains
• 4:34
  in
• 4:34
  the
• 4:34
  winter
• 4:34
  impact's
• 4:35
  belt
• 4:35
  with
• 4:35
  continued
• 4:36
  slick
• 4:36
  travel.
• 4:37
  Light
• 4:37
  additional
• 4:38
  snow
• 4:38
  and
• 4:38
  refreeze
• 4:39
  are
• 4:39
  the
• 4:39
  primary
• 4:40
  hazards.
• 4:42
  Rhode
• 4:42
  island
• 4:42
  continues
• 4:43
  to
• 4:43
  dig
• 4:43
  out
• 4:43
  with
• 4:44
  hazardous
• 4:44
  travel
• 4:45
  where
• 4:45
  melting
• 4:45
  and
• 4:45
  refreezing
• 4:46
  turns
• 4:46
  surfaces
• 4:47
  to
• 4:47
  ice.
• 4:49
  Texas
• 4:49
  is
• 4:49
  balancing
• 4:50
  active
• 4:50
  wildfire
• 4:51
  response
• 4:51
  with
• 4:52
  very
• 4:52
  high
• 4:52
  fire
• 4:53
  start
• 4:53
  potential
• 4:53
  today.
• 4:55
  Texas
• 4:55
  A
• 4:55
  and
• 4:55
  M
• 4:55
  Forest
• 4:56
  Service's
• 4:56
  latest
• 4:56
  statewide
• 4:57
  status
• 4:57
  report
• 4:58
  says
• 4:58
  it
• 4:59
  handled
• 4:59
  multiple
• 4:59
  assistance
• 5:00
  requests
• 5:00
  yesterday
• 5:01
  reflecting
• 5:02
  ongoing
• 5:02
  fast
• 5:03
  moving
• 5:03
  grass
• 5:03
  fire
• 5:04
  conditions.
• 5:05
  The
• 5:05
  National
• 5:06
  Weather
• 5:06
  Service
• 5:06
  is
• 5:07
  also
• 5:07
  issuing
• 5:07
  and
• 5:07
  summarizing
• 5:08
  red
• 5:08
  flag
• 5:09
  warnings
• 5:09
  across
• 5:09
  parts
• 5:10
  of
• 5:10
  the
• 5:10
  regional
• 5:11
  Strong
• 5:11
  winds
• 5:12
  and
• 5:12
  very
• 5:12
  low
• 5:12
  humidity
• 5:13
  mean
• 5:13
  any
• 5:13
  spark
• 5:14
  can
• 5:14
  spread
• 5:14
  quickly.
• 5:16
  In
• 5:16
  Central
• 5:16
  Texas,
• 5:17
  a
• 5:17
  grass
• 5:17
  Fire
• 5:18
  near
• 5:18
  Interstate
• 5:18
  35
• 5:19
  has
• 5:19
  driven
• 5:20
  lane
• 5:20
  and
• 5:20
  exit
• 5:20
  closures
• 5:21
  and
• 5:21
  heavy
• 5:21
  response
• 5:22
  activity.
• 5:24
  Vermont
• 5:24
  remains
• 5:25
  in
• 5:25
  winter
• 5:25
  impact's
• 5:26
  recovery
• 5:26
  with
• 5:26
  additional
• 5:27
  light
• 5:27
  snow
• 5:27
  and
• 5:27
  icy
• 5:28
  conditions.
• 5:29
  Expect
• 5:30
  the
• 5:30
  highest
• 5:30
  risk
• 5:31
  at
• 5:31
  daybreak
• 5:31
  and
• 5:31
  after
• 5:32
  sunset
• 5:32
  as
• 5:33
  surfaces
• 5:33
  refreeze.
• 5:35
  All
• 5:35
  other
• 5:35
  states
• 5:35
  have
• 5:36
  no
• 5:36
  significant
• 5:36
  updates
• 5:37
  in
• 5:37
  the
• 5:37
  last
• 5:38
  24
• 5:38
  hours.
• 5:40
  That's
• 5:40
  your
• 5:40
  EM
• 5:40
  morning
• 5:41
  brief
• 5:41
  for
• 5:41
  February
• 5:42
  25,
• 5:43
  2026.
• 5:43
  Stay
• 5:44
  safe.