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

[Amelia]

I'm wondering if people are taking it less seriously because TWC et.al. ALWAYS hype these things so much.

[Lessismore]

The Mobile long-range radar is now showing what appear to be outer bands just off-shore.

http://radar.weather.gov/radar/latest/DS.p38cr/si.kmob.shtml

[NautiNurse]

That would be I-55 and I-59

[sheikdetailfeather]

I agree with you. Prayers for all in the path of this storm and prayer that it will weaken before landfall.

[demkicker]

When are they going to have this presser already!

No kidding! This stupid jerk mayor is late to his already late presser. What a negligent, incompetent poor excuse for a leader!

[LibSnubber]

God bless! May you and yours be safe. Check back in when you can.

[Petronski]

Thanks. I was about to go look it up. ;O)

[cyborg]

If they were open, there still would be grannies taking up two seats, smoking and playing their favorite machines ;-)

[NautiNurse]

He's loading up his plane, warming up the engines. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if the presser is held on the tarmack.

[zkbeta51]

I'm here in pensacola...they still haven't decided whether or not to evacuate us military folks. I should find out in about 30 minutes. Other than that, it's nice weather.

[easonc52]

AMEN

Hope you and yours stay safe.

[wolfcreek]

Reports from Huur. Ivan indicted 90 ft. wave in the gulf. As far as the storm surge in LA, it all depend on what angle the storm comes in. From the south, not so bad, from the SE, NO is toast.

[rickylc]

i'm afraid it's looking like that day is tomorrow

[NautiNurse]

hehe--my road atlas is sitting next to my right elbow.

[lifacs]

Category Five Hurricane: Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb.

[jetbanana]

I'm in Lafayette, too. Are you staying? Doing any boarding up, etc? Do you think we need to if things stay as is?

[rollo tomasi]

I can't believe City Officials are resorting to legalisms to CYA in the face of this monster.

This hurricane is a natural phenomenon that will likely cause massive destruction, democratically elected government officials are not.

The worst part about this is the lack of planning by LA politicians. At least governments can be somewhat controlled.

In this I hope New Orleans is spared the brunt and people wake up to corruption and ineptness of the leaders in government.

[Jeff Head]

I pray this is not a hurricane Camille type event. That CAT 5 in 1969 hitting near Gulf Port was a monster that swept entire neighborhoods clean.

[jacquej]

Thanks, Strategerist, am going to read up now. But, still hoping for an eyewall replacement cycle at just the right time to slow this demonic storm down.

I am sick at heart about this.

[Types_with_Fist]

Has the NO decided on mandatory evacuation YET?

I just woke up and heard something about "strenuous voluntary warning"?

I haven't caught up yet everyone. I'm surmising things have gotten worse still?