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

[ken5050]

THat's everything

[ken5050]

THat's everything

[seekthetruth]

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?

My thoughts also! Can't believe the incompetence of the mayor either! He recommended people fill their bathtubs with water to drink when they get back! Does he not realize there will be nothing to come back to? I pray for those poor people who will not be able to get out!! So very very sad!!

[rdl6989]

If I read correctly, the Superdome is designed to withstand winds of 200 mph. That is close to some of the gusts being reported.

[IronMan04]

There's the Superdome which can hold 100k but it is only rated for winds on 150 mph. However, in New Orleans the Wind is not the Issue, but instead the water. Right now I am in my house in Texas with a dozen relatives. Some of us will lose our houses, we may lose the entire city.

[LA Woman3]

I had heard the gridlock on I-10 was in the NO and BR areas. The only problem was with the rest stop in Texas (LA/TX border). Evidently, people are using it as a meeting place so it was extremely crowded.

[Ellesu]

In a way I'm glad the people have finally seen why we complain so much. Most of us have begun voting with our feet.

[Gabz]

Does anyone have cajun girl's location?

NN, do you have answer to this? I don't.

[Dad yer funny]

yup , post #1588 , ya nailed it Diddle

[fox0566]

I don't know a lot about these types of things, but I thought I heard where structures with huge roofs were not the safest places to be in high winds. You know, you always hear about places like gymnasiums in high schools that end up being the first places to lose their roofs when high winds move through. Isn't the Superdome sort of like the same thing? I mean, wouldn't a building with a smaller roof area have more support and be less likely to lose its roof? As I said, I'm not really familiar with these kinds of things, but I thought I'd put it out there anyway.

[longtermmemmory]

One thing everyone can do is make sure to donate to the RIGHT charity.

We will see some dramatic "planned" pictures of some charities groveling for money in the comming weeks. DO NOT BE FOOLED FOLKS.

I will not name names, but remember which major charity organizations were more interested in collect money and not doing overly expensive good.

[NautiNurse]

IIRC, cajun girl lives ~50 miles outside NO. That's from one of the Dennis threads. Haven't seen her here in days.

[Petronski]

I was watching "Hurricane Pam" on the left of my screen and the Fox News guy on the right of my screen ("Well, those levees are going to fail, we might as well just say it..."), and I just want to cry.


Mother of God!

[spycatcher]

DO NOT ASSUME YOU WILL BE SAFE IN THE SUPERDOME WITH 175MPH SUSTAINED WINDS!

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl092304thanh.1295648.html

"According to Curl, the assumption that the Superdome can withstand hurricane force winds is just that: an assumption. He says more analysis is needed to determine what the Dome can actually withstand because previous wind studies have become somewhat irrelevant since they did not factor in the new high-rise buildings around the Dome. “They create a wind tunnel effect and that needs to be tested. There were initial studies that indicated 130 miles per hour, but we don’t know,” said Curl. He adds that the Dome is not impervious to the same elements other areas would be exposed to."

[MinuteGal]

Exactly. Those prisoners in stir could drown if the facility is in the path of a huge surge, or in the deepest parts of the "bowl".

President Bush, please phone Da Mare and Da Guv again and tell these bozos to open both sides of the superhighways.

The Mayor is undoubtedly in a zombie-like state because he sees his political career washing away hour by hour.

Leni

[who knows what evil?]

175 MPH? We are watching history in the making here, folks. Unlike Camille; today's technology is providing all of us with front-row seats.

[Dog Gone]

I am just horrified by what is going to happen. Katrina has gusts up to 190 mph now. The city is going to be flooded with 20 to 30 feet of water. Thousands, at least, will not be able to leave or will choose not to.

The Superdome will be a dark hellhole without power and with floodwaters rising inside. The whole city is going to be a toxic dump for months. It just doesn't get any worse than this.

The deepwater oil and gas facilities are in harm's way. Even if we don't know anyone who lives in Louisiana, and I certainly do, we are all going to feel the impact of the coming catastrophe in a very real way.

I just want to cry, and it's not even begun to get cloudy in New Orleans yet. Everyone here will remember the coming days for the rest of their lives. Why didn't people listen? Oh man.

[Mr.Atos]

Kat 6!

[rollo tomasi]

If your analysis is correct then I hope those using Pres. Bush as cover for political gain will be judge harshly in this life and the next.