Live Thread - Hurricane Katrina, Part IV (Update: Now a Category 5 )

NOAA - NHC ^ | 27 August 2005 | NOAA - NHC

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane warnings and watches are posted. Hurricane Katrina continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico. The forecast models continue to converge upon New Orleans. However, all interests in the northern Gulf of Mexico should follow the path of this very large and dangerous storm, and be prepared for a major hurricane landfall. There have been reports of coastal animals leaving in droves for higher ground. Meanwhile, New Orleans continues to suggest that residents evacuate.

The following links are self-updating:

Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track
Navy Storm Track
Katrina Track Forecast Archive Nice loop of each NHC forecast track for both three and five day
Forecast Models
Alternate Hurricane Models via Skeetobite
Bouy Data Louisiana/Mississippi
Buoy Data Florida

Images:

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Experimental Radar Subject to delays and outages - and well worth the wait

Mobile Long Range Radar Loop

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Radar

Ft. Polk, LA Long Range Radar Loop

Northwest Florida Long Range Radar

Storm Floater IR Loop
Storm Floater Still & Loop Options
Color Enhanced IR Loop

Other Resources:

Hurricane Wind Risk Very informative tables showing inland wind potential by hurricane strength and forward motion
Central Florida Hurricane Center
New Orleans Web Cams Loads of web cam sites here. The sites have been very slow due to high traffic
New Orleans Music Online Couldn't resist--love that jazz
Golden Triangle Weather Page Nice Beaumont weather site with lots of tracks and graphics
Hurricane City
Crown Weather Tropical Website Offers a variety of storm info, with some nice track graphics

Live streaming:
copy/paste into player:

WWL-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_wwltv
WVTM-TV/DT Birmingham (WMP) - mms://a1256.l1289835255.c12898.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1256/12898/v0001/reflector:35255
WDSU-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - http://mfile.akamai.com/12912/live/reflector:38202.asx
Hurricane City (Real Player) - http://hurricanecity.com/live.ram
ABCNews Now (Real Player) - http://reallive.stream.aol.com/ramgen/redundant/abc/now_hi.rm

Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

Category	Wind Speed	Barometric Pressure	Storm Surge	Damage Potential
Tropical Depression	< 39 mph < 34 kts			Minimal
Tropical Storm	39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts			Minimal
Hurricane 1 (Weak)	74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts	28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more	4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m	Minimal damage to vegetation
Hurricane 2 (Moderate)	96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts	28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb	6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m	Moderate damage to houses
Hurricane 3 (Strong)	111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts	27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb	9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m	Extensive damage to small buildings
Hurricane 4 (Very strong)	131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts	27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb	13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m	Extreme structural damage
Hurricane 5 (Devastating)	Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts	Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb	Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m	Catastrophic building failures possible

[tiredoflaundry]

All we need is Geraldo sporting his hairy chest and the trifecta will be complete.

Ok I think you should get a 10min timeout for supplying that visual! ;-)

[NautiNurse]

I recall Isabel maintained Cat 5 status for longer than usual with her big eye.

[dawn53]

Whoa, and it's picking up forward speed. Every mph forward it picks up gives anybody that's trying to get out less time.

[jetbanana]

I was doing OK in my blessed ignorance!! Now I'm almost ballistic. :>) Should I pack up and leave yet?

[Kozak]

in the days after Katrina, we will start to hear calls that W is NOT doing enough to help rebuild the area..instead we are sending billions to rebuild Iraq.

The whole thing is, altogether now:

BUSH'S FAULT!

[mware]

Heading west might be the best move. That hurricane is going to shift to the east once it hits land.

[NautiNurse]

Good--please keep us posted of your plans. Prayers up for your safety.

[cyborg]

ARRRRRRGGGGGGGG can't they lay off the Natalee Holloway stuff for ONE DAY??? Sheesh.

[tiredoflaundry]

How fast is she moving now?

[dawn53]

That map a few posts up says 11 mph.

[cincinnati65]

My personal favorite was a CNN reporter on Carolina Beach with Bertha (I believe, maybe Fran. They closed the bridge that is the only way off the island, and they told him in his earphone while he was live on the air. No helicopter flights, no driving over the bridge, you're stuck now, buddy.

He was not a happy camper.

[mewzilla]

CNN was just doing an interview, I hope I have this right, with the head of Jefferson Parish's emergency management team. The gentleman said that this was the one government department where prayer was a requirement. He said their folks have callouses on their knees. Well, the folks in harm's way are in our prayers, too.

[Coldwater Creek]

Do you know if the planes at Pensacola have been moved?

[tiredoflaundry]

oh man........ every minute counts for the evacuation!

[mware]

Those barriers go and people are not going to have much time to head for the hills, (which in N.O, are none existent).

[don-o]

Hilarious. Nesbabe telling people to besure to take a map with them when they are evacuating.

Good Lord. She should tell them not to forget to put on their pants.

[Carolinamom]

When will the networks recall their reporters from NO? No job is worth dying for.

[Ellesu]

http://www.louisianatravel.com/hurricane

link to hotel info and other info.

[cyborg]

Did you hear what the guy said? It's his job to ride out the storm :( If I was his wife, I'd be saying get your a$$ down from the roof *LOL*

[NautiNurse]

Ellesu--thank you for your very valuable info.

What are your storm plans?