Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part V

NHC - NOAA ^ | 28 August 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the North Central Gulf of Mexico. Mandatory evacuation of New Orleans is finally underway. Louisiana officials are warning of complete failure to levy systems, and pleading with people to leave low lying areas. For those who choose to stay, they are recommending picks and axes for breaking through to access their roofs during flooding.

Due to the size and intensity of this storm, all interests in the North Gulf of Mexico should be rushing hurricane preparations to completion.

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:

http://www.wjbo.com - BR radio station. Callers calling in and describing traffic etc.
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

Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part IV
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

[Vinnie]

All the commercial buildings I put up (in non-hurricane territory) were spec'ed to withstand 40 pound per square foot lateral (wind) loads.

Formula for figuring wind pressure.
P=K(Vsq.) K=.005 over 100mph,= .004 below 100mph

That translates to 175mph= 153 lb/sq. ft.

[chgomac]

I truly believe that the active military & Natl. Guard will have to be called in to help.

Anyone stationed in Europe during the cold war was at least minimally aware of massive evacuation plans for planes into Europe with troops/supplies---refuel--planes out with dependents. BTW---the most expendable soldier was assigned to "escort" dependents to the departure airport.

[bwteim]

And then add that windspeed to right side....

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Oh my.

[Types_with_Fist]

does anyone understand if this could possibly be the type of event that causes the Mississippi to divert it's main flow into the Atchafalaya?

I understand it. The river has been trying to do that for years and the effort has been to keep it from happening... part of the reason the fears are so great for the New Orleans area in the face of this storm.

[Howlin]

Most of us who have been posting on these threads realized the seriousness of this storm days ago, thus we're not messing around.

[oceanview]

well, the forecasters all say its going to turn more north. we shall see.

[easonc52]

don, it is a fast moving thread. I have aheck of a time keeping up with it and probably have missed several messages addressed to me.

Most freepers understand that with events like this, not all posts addressed to a person will be answered.

I can vouch for that!

Go to the bathroom, and you missed a couple hundred! - lol

[shield]

I thought it was an interesting article...I hadn't thought of the marine life that'd be effective...

[zkbeta51]

one of my friends from tulane showed up here in Pensacola yesterday. They kicked her off campus so your son shouldn't be there.

[El Gran Salseron]

The Army Corps of Engineers has built a series of canals and dams North of New Orleans where the river makes that big sweeing turn from the North to the East and is trying to divert to the Atchafalya River.

They monitor silt levels and fresh water levels to divert water as necessary. They also have concrete levees along the river in that area but whatever they do the river undermines the concrete.

The Army Corps of Engineers has already said that one day the river is going to win the fight and that they are just forestalling the inevitable. New Orleans will be a ghost town and the Atchafalya will become the river of choice for a port.

[Pravious]

"As I understand it, New Orleans is south of the lake, so in reality the eye passing to the east may be worse than to the west. Wind from the northeast may force water over the floodwall and into the city."

Yes, that's what Bastardi said on Fox News.

[NautiNurse]

A Recon Plane is in the hurricane and should be sending vortex info shortly

Thanks for the update--looking forward to seeing that vortex data.

[oceanview]

thank you.

any of the networks have reporters in GulfPort Mississippi?

[vidbizz]

Just thought of all the above ground grave yards. How will they hold up? Is there a possibility that the graves will "pop up"? Anyone know?

[mhking]

Not a problem.

My cousin that kept saying that she wanted to stay with her house has been talked into going to her sister's. They're still too damn close for my comfort, but they are at least in a safer spot.

[Laurita]

I pray it doesn't hit at high tide.

[Mr. Jeeves]

NO might still dodge this bullet.

Not really. Even if Gulfport, MS gets the worst of it, there will still be at least CAT 4 winds blowing south on the west side of Katrina - driving Lake Ponchartrain right into the city. The Superdome might not cave in from 200 mph winds, but the flooding will still amount to a worst-case scenario.

[Lawgvr1955]

I posted the same thing. I don't post stuff that is from unreliable sites, without a disclaimer, EVER. I hope that helps.

I have never read an "official" report that was that dire. I am not really questioning whether it is correct or not. If a hoax, someone has gone to a lot of trouble.

I would think that C-130s would be hauling people out of there or at least tons of National Guard trucks would be running the streets to take people out. It just seems odd to me.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

We rode out Alicia in Houston in the 80's. The wind screamed and whistled through the cracks in the doors and windows for hours. You could almost feel the house straining to hold together.