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

[dc-zoo]

>>So let's all just quit bitching and start praying.

Amen brother. I like your attitude.

[blondee123]

Amazing that these people are partying & seem to have NO CLUE! You'd think after all that Florida has been thru, they would take it somewhat seriously, but they must all have the attitude that "it can't happen to them"!

We'll have to see what the webcams show tomorrow & Monday! Thanks for the link!

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Does anyone else see something else in this picture other than the hurricane ? look at the outer circle around the hurricane, as if, it's like a outer band on a beltway around a city, I have never seen this before.
Look at the outer circle or band passed the hurricane.

[MEG33]

I saw a lot of warning on TV earlier today.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

This hurricane looks like a hub in a wheel.

[Semper911]

We fear the winds more than the water.

Rethink your position, and fast.

Run from the water, hide from the wind.

[spycatcher]

It reminds me of a double rainbow

[blondee123]

They didn't say by who. Perhaps Jim Cantore?

LOL, well, he would know!!!

[Heatseeker]

Dr Walter Maestri, Emergency Operations Director for Jefferson Parish, being interviewed on WWL: "a "Lake New Orleans" could be created which will be filled with a "toxic" soup of mostly petroleum products, which they can't just pump out.

Poor New Orleans, I think their real estate bubble may have just burst.

[Gabz]

I totally agree with you.

Officials in NO and LA as a whole have totally been asleep at the wheel today.

There is nothing more we can do than to pray for them.

[spycatcher]

Scary:

http://www.usawx.com/11pmsaturdayaug27th2005katrinay.jpg

[Revel]

"This one's shaping up to be pretty ugly, isn't it?"

Just like Freddie Kruger.

[RepublicanArmy]

I'd take old freddy over this girl anyday...

[MplsSteve]

I wonder if Mayor Nagin and Gov Blanco suffer from the same affliction that seems to affect most people in that area:

"The hurricane will turn away from here".

Now there's the realization (prompted by Max Mayfield's conversation w/Gov Blanco) that it likely won't turn away and now they're scrambling to fix the situation.

[nwctwx]

I didn't catch that... I suppose it is possible tho. I'm trying to find confirmation of the evac order from another source besides TWC.

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1472187/posts

BREAKING - MANDATORY EVAC ISSUED FOR NEW ORLEANS CITY
The Weather Channel


Posted on 08/28/2005 1:46:06 AM CDT by Crazieman


Broadcast on the weather channel, soon to be posted around the net.

Webcams show traffic is light at this AM, soon to fill quickly. Freepers and friends in New Orleans should flee now!

First Hurricane evacuation in New Orleans history (so its said

[STARWISE]

LOL .. yep ..

[Kirkwood]

"I noticed that, too, a couple of hours ago. Drunken people doing their karaoke in the bar, people leisurely strolling Bourbon St. ... what are they thinking???"

What would you have them do? These are tourists with NO WAY to leave the city. No rental cars, no buses, no trains, no seats on planes. It is a nice night in NOLA, so why not enjoy it? They can ride out the storm safely in the high rise hotels in the interior corridors. They can also evacuate to the dome tomorrow if necessary.

[nwctwx]

Who's linking to FR?

That would be me. I am ConnMan on EUSWX. :)

[JUMPIN JEHOSPOHAT]

I can hear the mayor now giving the order for mandatory evac..he's saying,"EVERYBODY ALL #SS!" :)