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

[bjs1779]

Shep's at the Royal Sonesta? Nice place.

I don't think that place is going to stand. Yikes!

[alancarp]

I wonder if the President is doing anything in an attempt to blunt the impact that oil prices will take due to this. And no, I frankly have no idea what he could do except to send a message to the markets to be kind during our disaster and that the US Government will do everything possible to restore/rebuild/yada yada yada.

[RDTF]

that's gonna make me cry

[MamaB]

They have started opening up some of the schools for shelter.

[Amelia]

Why weren't plans in place to do this?

We've been wondering that since yesterday...also why they didn't shut things down & start getting those tourists out of there by lunchtime yesterday.

[EBH]

He said a lot of the freelance photographers they usually use for events like this have been told to get out and are heeding the warning. I think brought reality to him.

[Tuxedo]

I have a conference in the Hyatt Regency by the Dome in early December.... not looking good right now.

[mhking]

Curfew in City of New Orleans begins at 6P, per Nagin on WWL.

[mercy]

Don't forget a few thousand drowned pets and snakes.

[small voice in the wilderness]

not enough is my guess. Wonder if the ladies room line will be longer...

[Txsleuth]

He also commented how good it was that the Dome has air conditioning...but, not if the electricity is out, it won't...darn

[geopyg]

Sorry I just got on this thread, and not about to go back through a wormhole to the previous. It sounds like the Superdome is full of people??

[mware]

First time the "nosebleed seats' are gonna be the most desirable...

I would not want to be even near the roof.

[steveegg]

WWL - pickups for the Superdome are slacking off per NO mayor, and the last pickup will be at 6 pm. Curfew starts at New Orleans starts at 6 pm, and the emergency services are expected to shut off then as well.

[GOP_Proud]

My heart is breaking for those people waiting in line at the Dome.

[MizSterious]

And once people get their bearings and water has gone down enough, there will be investigations about what happened to the emergency preparedness funds (Louisiana taxpayers paid for it) and why the President had to twist the Louisiana officials' arms to get an evacuation started. (Been there, saw that, many years before.)

[Warren_Piece]

Over here.

[LadyBuzz]

I fear the Superdome is a death trap for all these poor folks - it makes me shudder

[wimpycat]

I'm watching. Last pickup of buses to go to Superdome will occur at 6:00pm local time. After that, curfew will be in effect. Anybody riding storm out in their homes will then be on their own--no police, no fire, no EMS, no nothin'.

[spetznaz]

1) Is there ANY chance of this maelstrom veering off? Pressure bands etc (I have to admit that I am not that well versed in hurricanes .....all i've had to worry about are blizzards and twisters for the last 5 yrs, so info would be appreciated).

2) Also how come they do no have military C-130s airlifting those people who cannot get out? The ride would be quite uncomfortable, but that seems better than sitting out a Cat-5. If I was a governor I would definitely have explored that option.

3) Finally how in goodness name will the state of Louisiana, and the country at large, handle the potentially huge loss of life (not to mention the fiscal cost of what might be the eradication of an entire city, at least in terms of viability)?

Although I guess my biggest question is if there is any chance of a miracle occuring that causes the hurricane to veer off (and not into Texas). Thanks NautiNurse.