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

[Howlin]

The guy on Fox right now is saying that if it comes into the east, the winds will switch around and push the water from the lake into NO.

[spycatcher]

Yeah, for example when the high tide fills up a bay it adds a massive weightload on a fault that might sit there.

[mhking]

Live Streams copy/paste into WMP or RP:

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
WKRG-TV/DT Mobile (WMP) - mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95518

[IndyTiger]

Storm surge animation now playing on Fox...

[kenth]

I agree. From what people said of the gov and mayor's press conference, it sounds like his declaration wasn't enough of a hint. He had to actually talk to her to strike some sense into her head.

It appears to be too late. They wasted all night. They don't have until the eye reaches land as winds and flooding will begin long before that.

While people need to be responsible for themselves and their families, some people just do not or will not understand the gravity of a situation until some government official tells them.

[Black Tooth]

Hurricanes don't cause earthquakes Soemone is pulling your leg

One example: http://www.iris.washington.edu/about/ENO/iows/9_2004b.htm "Hurricanes can easily be recorded by seismographs

No, that's not an example of a hurricane causing an earthquake.

Just because an event can be recorded on a seismograph, does not mean it caused an earthquake. Seismographs can even register sonic booms if I am not mistaken. But sonic booms do not cause earthquakes either.

[advance_copy]

I just looked again, and you're right (guess I'm a little tired). Slightly west of New Orleans does look like the path to me now, and that would be the worst because it puts NO in the eastern half near the eye.

[oceanview]

the mayor is on MSNBC right now. he sounds so relaxed, like he just took a hit on a bong. he is chuckling. this is madness.

[bwteim]

Let me answer my own question...

From
http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf?/washingaway/thebigone_1.html

"The wind will blow out windows and explode many homes, even those built to the existing 110-mph building-code standards. People seeking refuge from the floodwaters in high-rise buildings won't be very safe, recent research indicates, because wind speed in a hurricane gets greater with height. If the winds are 155 mph at ground level, scientists say, they may be 50 mph stronger 100 feet above street level."

[tet68]

Dude, you are too much.

[CarolTX]

Yet ANOTHER reason to be grateful for FR!
I've been watching Fox & CNN & WXchannel all morning and had any number of questions about some of the things I was seeing.

THANKS...for clarifying why all those cars on I-10 seemed to be stopped in the far left lane...while the other lanes were whipping by. (those folks are lined up to go east...everyone else is going north or west....)

THANKS...for explaining why the Superdome would be considered a refuge if the whole city is underwater (it's on a hill)

THANKS...for simple explanations of historic low pressure levels, storm surges, and wind velocities. (175 mph....I can't even imagine it)

I'm far inland & have never been anywhere near a hurricane. Thanks to you all for educating me up. FR is a great resource!!

[Diddle E. Squat]

WHY aren't they also using the other lane to escape? I thought that was the MO in exiting this kind of disaster.

Probably for 2 reasons. With the west and east freeways there are local roads that can be used by those who have to travel inbound(such as out of state relatives rushing in to evacuate a shutin parent) but not so for the causeway, which crosses the middle of the lake with no options for 20 miles either way. Also, the causeway ends at an east-west freeway (I-12) on the north shore, with no northbound freeway to continue on, just some 2-lane roads.

[RBurke]

I saw the Mayor of N.O. speak yesterday and he made it clear that he didnt have the authority to order a mandatory evacuation, he said "That has to come from someone higher than me." I had the strong feeling he was begging people to read between the lines and leave. His eyes looked haunted to me--they still do.

Stadium effect is the wind tunnel created by winds passing around high rise buildings that concentrate around a shorter structure (I believe).

[chet_in_ny]

Cell phones must be jammed as I can't get in touch with my cousin in the garden district. When will the cell phone companies pony up and get the extra capacity?

[silentknight]

QUOTE "The Red Cross lost a great deal of support and confidence when they charged the soldiers of WWII for coffee and donuts--while eliciting donations from the soldiers' families back home.

"

You don't have all the facts. The American Red Cross was basically FORCED to charge that by the Red Cross overseas. They were charging and when we arrived they made us do the same. Would you like your freaking nickel back?

Something happened how many years ago...and it still causes you to hate the Red Cross? What a joke. The American Red Cross never wanted to charge that nickel in the first place.

If that is the main reason you don't like the Red Cross then you truly are misinformed on what they do these days. They do a SUPER job. GET OVER IT ALREADY. Would you like your nickel back? If so I will GLADLY mail it to you.

Agencies make MISTAKES you know. They learn from them and change the way things are done.

[pax_et_bonum]

I agree. From what people said of the gov and mayor's press conference, it sounds like his declaration wasn't enough of a hint. He had to actually talk to her to strike some sense into her head.

It appears to be too late. They wasted all night. They don't have until the eye reaches land as winds and flooding will begin long before that.

While people need to be responsible for themselves and their families, some people just do not or will not understand the gravity of a situation until some government official tells them.

True, which is why they're called 'leaders.'

These folks have shown very poor leadership qualities and I'm afraid many people will pay with their lives.

[spectre]

The Mayor said he has a "cot" at the Hyatt and is riding out the storm.

He also said that NO is going to be like "Venice" for awhile, only with little "swamp critters and things like that" swimming in the water.

He's a little detached, I think..

sw

[Howlin]

That was horrifying.

[El Gran Salseron]

Did you read what I posted? There is no "downtown" in New Orleans. It is "uptown." :-)

[2harddrive]

There is only ONE way to break up the storm - drop TWO 24 megaton H-Bombs into the eye of the Hurricane, high air-burst, while it is still way offshore, to destroy the circularwind pattern.