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

[pax_et_bonum]

He waited too late. Should have called for voluntary evacuations Friday night, mandatory Sat am. JMO.

You're right. This is sickening.

[Timeout]

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

You said it. I'm in Mobile. We've been taking things pretty much in stride...no boards, no stocking up. I doubt she'll turn enough to come here. But we're in for some heavy weather.

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REMINDER TO THOSE EVACUATING

This also applies to those who lose power in the storm.

TURN OFF MAIN POWER CIRCUIT TO YOUR HOME.

After Ivan, we were without power for over 2 weeks. When it finally came on I was lucky enough to be here. My lights were VERY bright, then dim, then bright again. I chased down the crew, who came back and found damage to the pole where their lines connect to my house. Every circuit in my home was carrying 220 instead of 110. Several major appliances were ruined, but they said the house could have burned if I hadn't been home.

SO...turn off the main circuit. That way you'll have to be there when the power is restored.

ALSO...if you have a portable generator DO NOT attach it to your house circuit. It can backfeed into the main system, endangering power workers. A worker was killed after Dennis when power surged through what was supposed to be a dead line.

[trillabodilla]

NN, thanks so much for your diligence in preparing the information on this thread.

[Ellesu]

WWL just said people have 6 hours, maybe a little more to get out, because they may need to close the interstate.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I just caught a live report from LA on TWC and heard something I've never heard before. Jim Cantori said "if you're still here and not afraid, you should be. We're afraid, and getting ready to leave."

I wonder if the National Guard can help evacuate.

[trillabodilla]

gotta get my dictionary to find out what extrapolated means. haha

[newzjunkey]

It could be worse. Hurricane Gilbert, Cat 5 from Sept 1988

Gilbert’s remarkable intensification trend continued as the cyclone reached Category 5 status on the afternoon of the 13th and eventually reached peak winds of 185 mph. The minimum central pressure of the cyclone plummeted to 888 millibars, which represented a 70-millibar drop in only a 24-hour period. This minimum central pressure recorded by NOAA aircraft remains the lowest pressure ever recorded in the western hemisphere.

[LA Woman3]

Yes, but what about the bars in the French Quarter?
Did you hear the drunk guy on WWL?? Idiot!

[not-alone]

915 is very scary and she is huge. I have been through many hurricanes , but the idea of being in NO for Katrina is beyond my imagination.

[trillabodilla]

Good morning, El.

Prayers for you and yours during this storm.

[Heatseeker]

Yup. If it is 915 mb now, the all-time 892 mb record set by the 1935 Florida Keys hurricane is approachable. And this on the most vulnerable city in the country!

[LA Woman3]

Thank you for the valuable information!

[pax_et_bonum]

I hope we send in National Guard from neighboring states to help people evacuate.

I'm afraid there's going to be catastrophic loss of life.

[Ellesu]

Good Morning, thank you and same to everyone else in Louisiana possibly affected by this storm. And thanks to all who have sent their best wishes and prayers.

[mewzilla]

Per FNC: She's just made Cat 5.

[newzjunkey]

She is truly *awe* inspiring.

[neutrality]

Apparently the pressure is now down to 905mb (unconfirmed)

[LA Woman3]

Per WWL...
St. Bernard parish official...."I don't have enough body bags"
Chilling.

[Ellesu]

WWL had someone from New Orleans govt. on just now. His words: "Please leave now, I just don't have enough body bags for all of you who are staying." KATRINA is now at 160 mph! Cat 5!

[newzjunkey]

See info in Post 847.