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

[Revel]

"These people don't seem to be listening. I have been watching different street cams all night. What is going on there? "


Amazing...Stupid people!

[diverteach]

I've got some friends over there in Metarie. Myself, I'm in Destin. Good Luck to ya'll and for God sakes I hope you're getting the hell out of there.

[spycatcher]

Good point on the media. It's hit or miss and some may just be waiting until the experts and mayors start freaking out.

[Termite_Commander]

Okay then. I'm going to go catch a few hours of sleep.

Goodnight everybody. Stay safe!!

[liberty2004]

Amazing...Stupid people!

IT must be tourists are dumb locals. We are in Metaire,a suburb on New Orleans. Everyone we know is taking this very seriously. Many people are leaving right now. We have our plans in place.

[Revel]

Hey! Glad to see you around!

[liberty2004]

Correction tourists are or dumb locals

[nwctwx]

Satellite is back..

She looks pretty evil.

http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/uploads/post-590-1125210297.jpg

[STARWISE]

I wouldn't think so ..I've never heard of such a thing, but I'm not certain. At this point, a motel with a vacancy and the gas bill to get there, eat and hopefully return after would be a pretty penny. The mayor said it's for the people I mentioned .. and the people dependent on public transportation. That's who would most likely be bused to the Dome.

He or any official can't just walk away, dooming these people to certain death. It's gonna be crazy there tomorrow .. panicking people, dozens of transport runs, short fuses and bodies to accomplish this mission in time, and a lot of discomfort.... but it's better than alternative. I hope there's no crazed mobs clamoring for the excursions to the Dome, and that there's room for all who need it. That place will be nuts... the cops are gonna have their hands full, I'll bet. They waited too long, IMO.

I also have a hard time believing this is the first time NO has been evacuated for a hurricane.

[nwctwx]

hmm, that didn't work.

http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconusir.html

[Heatseeker]

LOL. Basically the same here, except it's "get on Rt 50 and if you're lucky you'll get across the Bay Bridge within the current geologic epoch."

[STARWISE]

TWC: 1st time NO has had a MANDATORY evacuation.

[MEG33]

Prayers for you and your loved ones..

[Reagan80]

Goodness sakes, liberty...

At least drive inland northward to higher ground. There's still time to do that, especially from 2 am to 5 am, even with extra traffic, you'll still move away from the brunt. You can judge whether to start moving East or West 10 hours from now, listening to the weather reports regarding the tracking... You In all seriousness, this appears to be the big one...

Reagan80

[RepublicanArmy]

According to TWC they just issued a MANDATORY evac for NO...

[dixiechick2000]

(dixie deadhead)

LOL!
I know you've been "thinking".

I love it! ;o)

[MplsSteve]

I can't imagine any tourists still remaining in NO right now. Maybe they're thinking "Hell, I can still get out of town tomorrow morning or afternoon".

As much as I love a little excitement every now and then, a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane is not my idea of excitement.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Alert. The Weather Channel just reports a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for New Orleans.

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!!!!!

TWC just said first time in history MANDATRORY evac for city of NO.........

OMG

[STARWISE]

I think what was said that, due to the topography of the area, size and intensity of the storm, a Cat. 4 is just as bad as a Cat. 5, if my memory's correct.