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

[mewzilla]

You're right. I heard a meteorologist say that when they get that big they are their own "weather system," and they make the weather, other systems do not have an effect on them.

The meterological equivalent of the nine hundred pound gorilla.

[Nexus]

OMG, 915, hls. GTHON

[DefiantZERO]

Wow, this is so much bigger than I thought it'd be.

Is this thing still gonna be anything to worry about when it gets to the northeast? Usually by now they've already begun to lose concentration..

[jslade]

Listening to WWL in NO, that 915 is lower than Andrew.

[DefiantZERO]

Lower pressure = more or less destructive?

[Fraxinus]

Actually I believe that Mid-latitude anti-cyclones can still push them around.

Think Canadian High.

[jslade]

MORE!

[mewzilla]

I wonder since she strengthened so much so fast, any chance she could shoot her wad early and fizzle into something less horrific?

[chemicalman]

Norco area checking in (15 m N of NO).

Had to come to work this morning, but pans are to have everything shutdown before noon and then a crew of 6 to remain behind in reinforced office buildings.

No traffic on Airline Hwy in LaPlace when I was leaving for work (4:30 am), but traffic was getting thick in a short amount of time coming out of the NO direction.

I'll be headed out on the back roads towards Alexandria then towards Shreveport with boat in tow. Hopefully I can pick up a generator @ Home Depot for my trip back home. I know we're going to be without power for a few weeks, maybe more. Need to keep my fish frozen.

Check in a little later when I get some equipment secured.

STAY SAFE!

[palmer]

Andrew was 922

[jslade]

I wonder since she strengthened so much so fast, any chance she could shoot her wad early and fizzle into something less horrific?

She could I suppose, but it could also get worse.

[DefiantZERO]

What does this mean for the northeast, considering the track maps?

[Ellesu]

Which of you heard the report about the animals--and what was the source, please?



WWL 870 New Orleans a spokesperson from the NHC, did not catch his name.

[LA Woman3]

Good morning! You can't sleep either??

[tutstar]

I can't believe the weather channel just said evac is still voluntary for NO! How insane! Look at this folks! The storm is huge and too strong....get out while you can!!

[palmer]

Much needed rain, although I don't wish that storm on anyone on the coast and the midwest needs the rain even more.

[Ellesu]

What does that mean for hospitals and hotels to be exempt? Exempt from evacuation or some charter that prevents it? This is amazing.

I don't know. Perhaps he is concerned about the criminal element that could damage the hotels etc. that are empty, although if everyone is cleared out, and curfew is called, no one would be there to wreck the empty businesses. I don't know if they think they don't have time to get tourists out who flew in and now the airport has canceled many many flights and those tourists that want to leave are stuck at the airport. The liability from transferring so many ill and critically ill patients on roads in which contraflow is not working, especially since so many waited. How many need Air Med? He waited too late. Should have called for voluntary evacuations Friday night, mandatory Sat am. JMO.

[newzjunkey]

It means it'll get wet up there.

[Ellesu]

No, got up at 4AM, check your mail.

[jslade]

WWL 870 New Orleans a spokesperson from the NHC, did not catch his name.

BREAKING NEWS PER WWL! Schools will be closed tomorrow. Duh!