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

[SE Mom]

I wish we could have sent our governor Jeb over to you...

This is really startling to watch the incompetence of the mayor. Where are the grownups?

[Lakeside]

They implemented contra-flow yesterday afternoon. I don't know where those pictures were taken.

[ruthles]

I think in part that's a NO drall. Even Harry Conick Junior, a great musician, and son of a judge sounds like that.

[bwteim]

I imagine engineers are ready for rain/flood impact on the ORCS and the Atchafalaya.

[SunnySide]

"When are they going to get a clue and open the opposite lanes of the I-10 to outbound traffic? Mississippi already has, what's Louisiana waiting for?"

"what's Louisiana waiting for?"

Obviously a hand written invitation from God

(rolls eyes)

[cyborg]

:( I'm going to go to the beach P. Check out the wave action and pray for our freeper friends and all the people who can't leave NO.

[kx9088]

I think so. I know they said they stopped all incoming traffic.

[TomGuy]

These ain't the folks you want around in a time of crisis. They are acting so apathetic, so casual! They don't seem to give a sh*t! They are talking about this with no sense of urgency!

Yeh. Mayor 'hopes everyone can get out'.

Duh!

[jetbanana]

I've always said that Kathleen would make a great class president--maybe.

Does anyone know I-10 conditions west of Lafayette toward TX?

[Termite_Commander]

Weather Channel is reporting 175 MPH winds now. God help the people of NO.

[Petronski]

Will do sweetie.

[MinuteGal]

"We have emergency generators in the prisons. We're going to leave the prisoners where they belong." (Police Chief).

Hmmmm, there will be panic in the prisons, you can make book on it.

Leni

[jetbanana]

I've always said that Kathleen would make a great class president--maybe.

Does anyone know I-10 conditions west of Lafayette toward TX?

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Katrina Advisory Number 23
Statement as of 10:00 am CDT on August 28, 2005

...Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Katrina...even
stronger...headed for the northern Gulf Coast...

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the north central Gulf Coast
from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida
border...including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to
protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

 

A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are in effect from
east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin Florida...and from
west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana. A Tropical
Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected
within the warning area within the next 24 hours. A Hurricane Watch
means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch
area...generally within 36 hours.

 
A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect from Destin Florida
eastward to Indian Pass Florida...and from Intracoastal City
Louisiana westward to Cameron Louisiana.

 
For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

 
At 10 am CDT...1500z...the center of Hurricane Katrina was located
near latitude 26.0 north... longitude 88.1 west or about 225 miles
south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

 
Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph...and a turn
toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected over the next
24 hours.

 
Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that
the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 175 mph...with
higher gusts.  Katrina is a potentially catastrophic category five
hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.  Some fluctuations in
strength are likely during the next 24 hours.

 
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the
center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 205 miles.

 
The Air Force hurricane hunter plane recently measured a minimum
central pressure of 907 mb...26.78 inches.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide
levels...locally as high as 28 feet along with large and dangerous
battering waves...can be expected near and to the east of where the
center makes landfall.

 
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches...with isolated maximum amounts of
15 inches...are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf
Coast and the Tennessee Valley.  Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches
are possible across the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes
region Tuesday and Wednesday.

Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning this evening over
southern portions of Louisiana...Mississippi...and Alabama...and
over the Florida Panhandle.

Repeating the 10 am CDT position...26.0 N... 88.1 W.  Movement
toward...west-northwest near 12 mph.  Maximum sustained winds...
175 mph.  Minimum central pressure... 907 mb.

 
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane
Center at 1 PM CDT followed by the next complete advisory at 4 PM
CDT.

 
Forecaster Pasch

[kabar]

Flight cancellations? Why can't they increase flight availability so tourists are not stuck in the city? It is easier to get them out then worry about them in the hotels.

[cyborg]

I think I would be very uncomfortable living in a house by the water in a hurricane zone. At least you placed yourself right.

[Crazieman]

Hurricane Katrina Advisory Number 23 Statement as of 10:00 am CDT on August 28, 2005 ...Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Katrina...even stronger...headed for the northern Gulf Coast... A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the north central Gulf Coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border...including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin Florida...and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass Florida...and from Intracoastal City Louisiana westward to Cameron Louisiana. For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office. At 10 am CDT...1500z...the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 26.0 north... longitude 88.1 west or about 225 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph...and a turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected over the next 24 hours.

Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 175 mph...with higher gusts.

Katrina is a potentially catastrophic category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. The Air Force hurricane hunter plane recently measured a minimum central pressure of 907 mb...26.78 inches. Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels...locally as high as 28 feet along with large and dangerous battering waves...can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches...with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches...are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf Coast and the Tennessee Valley. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible across the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes region Tuesday and Wednesday. Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning this evening over southern portions of Louisiana...Mississippi...and Alabama...and over the Florida Panhandle. Repeating the 10 am CDT position...26.0 N... 88.1 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 175 mph. Minimum central pressure... 907 mb. An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 1 PM CDT followed by the next complete advisory at 4 PM CDT. Forecaster Pasch $$

[IndyTiger]

These guys are placing all their eggs in the superdomwe...but its going to fill rapidly.

The Superdome with about 10-20 feet of water in the lower levels...no electricity, no working plumbing, etc. Gonna be a mess. Talking about backup generators..keeping prisoners in jails "where they belong!".

Within about six hours it could be a panic situation with cars stranded on the roads, etc. OMG!

[LibFreeOrDie]

"PERFECT STADIUM EFFECT"

Not good...

Photos of stadium effect from earlier hurricanes:

http://www.hurricanehunters.com/ivan.htm

http://www.hurricanehunters.com/isabel.htm

[SouthTexas]

Normal drawl. Just talked to family in S. Alabama, they sound the same (as Mom did). They are staying unless the storm turns back east.