Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VI

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

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the North Central Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans metro area. Thousands of people did not evacuate New Orleans. Outer bands of Katrina are reaching the Louisiana coast.

Due to the size and intensity of this storm, all interests in the North Gulf of Mexico should be in their safe locations.

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:

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

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

[hole_n_one]

Of course the Superdome saved New Orleans before. Does anyone remember that made-for-TV movie where the killer bees invaded New Orleans, and they defeated the bees by driving them into the Superdome then turned down the A/C in the dome to kill bees off?

It's a little known fact that the script writer for that movie was none other than Carl Rove.

[mercy]

You're not familliar with NO are you?

[RayChuang88]

This storm could have epic repercussions for our country. NO may be uninhabitable after this and the storm could concievably change the path of the Mississippi, with the effect of access to the Port of NO being cut off.

But it would also mean an unprecedented economic opportunity, too. We could seriously consider abandoning the old Mississippi Delta area and build a completely new, properly-planned city located near the re-routed new Mississippi Delta--an opportunity that would mean millions of jobs, especially in the construction industry.

[randita]

My bet is that plans are to bring in multiple porta-potties. Also probably on the way are crates of MRE's or other methods of food. Someone on the ball should have been going around the city collecting leftover food from restaurants which are closed or going to close. Hopefully, there are dozens of large generators on the way, as well to keep at least minimal lights on and maybe run the fans.

It would be foolish not to plan for those folks in the Superdome to be there for 2 days or more. That means some means for minimal power production, lots of food, drinking water and of course, scads of extra potties. Flush toilets are going to be useless once there's flooding.

[Dog]

If reading this read is like a train wreck....why did you post on it?

So who is going to wave a magic wand and make Katrina disappear?

[steveegg]

Eye is now visible on long-range New Orleans radar (traditional display loop/experimental display static). The center of the eye is about 220 south-southeast of New Orleans.

[RegulatorCountry]

"During the storm it should be bearable, as the outside temps will be much cooler."

Hurricane wind is like high velocity dog's breath, in my experience. Hot and wet. But, I don't think many people are going to be obsessing about temps when it starts to howl outside.

[GaltMeister]

I heard the reporter at the Dome say 102 bathrooms....72,000 people....

That's roughly 700 people per bathroom. That's gonna be a mess, especially when the power goes out and the sewers back up from flooding.

[Tuxedo]

The outside of the structure is solid. But the roof.... hard to say.

[mhking]

Is it the highest elevation around?

There is no "highest elevation." The Dome is the only concrete reinforced building available with any kind of height above street level.

I just pray it doesn't turn into a giant tomb.

[Peach]

I didn't see the face of the Fox reporter. I'm sick about this and keep getting up and pacing around the house. It did NOT need to happen this way.

My husband just said he can just hear the legislators from LA calling the president saying that he had to get this danged NO mayor off the dime to make a decision.

[mewzilla]

TD-13 just formed in the Atlantic.

I can't print what I'm thinking.

[MizSterious]

Yes. There are some tough customers who are likely to show up in those lines. Really tough customers. You don't want a gunfight to break out in the middle of a hurricane.

[Kozak]

I'd rather risk that then be close to the field and the flooding.

[kx9088]

You know what I meant ;)

[reaganbooster]

Just a weird thought at this somber time; If the Superdome somehow survives intact, and saves 10's of thousands of lives, don't you see this as another excuse to push taxpayer financed, hurricane proof, sports stadiums to protect the public?

[Godebert]

I would not want to be even near the roof.

Any idea what the roof structure is made of? I'm wondering if it can withstand the flying debris (Toyotas, Chevys and the odd refridgerator) which will certainly strike it.

[del4hope]

"pickups for the Superdome are slacking off per NO mayor"

Oh, so they can use buses to send them to the Superdome, but not a shelter out of town???

[mhking]

Damn! That eye is HUGE!

[steveegg]

Are those the same links at the top of the thread?

Yep.