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

[beyond the sea]

FReepmail for you!

You are SO RIGHT about Dee!!!!

[oceanview]

steve lyons on TWC now, saying the trough over texas that is trying to turn it north, is also going to weaken it. let's see by how much.

[maggief]

TWC:

In 2-3 hours hurricane winds to hit LA southern tip.

[MikefromOhio]

People keep commenting on how huge the eye is, when in actuality, a large eye is indicative of weakening.

Well I wish it would get it on then. It just doesn't seem to be happening.

[Petronski]

I have never had a chance to see the French Quarter. I hope I do some day. :O(

[antti tuuri]

not to mention mo refineries to turn it into gas and diesel

[ncpatriot]

Thanks for saying that. I needed to hear it.

[Peach]

I'm worried about ABG. The last post he made was 8/26 with no mention of the hurricane.

[Gadsdenman]

Reserve isn't going to help if we lose any significant amount of refinery capacity, not to mention pipelines. That kind of infrastructure can't be replaced quickly, and we are already operating close to full production. The energy markets are going to go wild Monday. This event will probably have devastating effects on our economy in the near future.
Pray for a miracle, for the people still in NO, and for the rest of us,later.

[Churchillspirit]

What a horrible decision to make to leave them (Pets)

I can't imagine having to make a decision like that.

My four cats have shown remarkable astuteness during various earthquakes. They seem to know instinctively where it is safe to go, but with a disaster like this there will be no safe place for the animals.

Special prayer for all the animals in the path of Katrina - and their owners.

[MikefromOhio]

yep...

it's all about where it goes in.....

[MEG33]

Amen! Anything to weaken this!I have such fear for the people caught in this hurricane and the flooding..

[Peach]

Oh my gosh. Thanks for that link.

[El Gran Salseron]

They are stopping contra-flow soon enough to assure that incoming roads are clear for when rescue crews have to get IN.

It'll take several hours to stop contra-flow and clear the roads. IF they get it done in time then the weather will be too bad to do it later.

After they get the roads clear then IF they can stay, they'll have to maintain the roads' navigability.

[the Deejay]

LOL! You weren't WRONG!

Just had a slight lapse of memory for a moment.

[Did ya pick up my previous FRmail?]

[mercy]

Boats.

[NittanyLion]

In short, those people trapped in high-rise buildings stand a good chance of living through this thing, so don't give up hope yet. In the end, we are Americans, and Americans are notoriously difficult to kill. Chins up, gang.

Agreed. It'll be bad, but I highly doubt as bad as folks here are making it out to be. I'll wager that the casualty count may be in the hundreds, but not the 40-100K that we've seen predicted by some.

[spanalot]

"Pressure is NOT going to crush it like a tin can. That is bad science. You also DO NOT open doors or windows in a tornado and or hurricane. You will compromise the entire structure."

Won't the drop in pressure do that- I have seen warnings to open windows in approaching tornedoes

[shezza]

not everyone has brought food and water, and there will be no food provided.

WHAT?? This is the designated emergency shelter...how can they NOT provide food and water? This is nuts.

[MizSterious]

They won't take a timeout. In fact, once the winds subside, and the water goes down, they'll begin looting. Bet on it.