Tropical Storm Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 18 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Tropical Storm Rita has developed from TD 18 in the Atlantic Ocean. TS Rita is currently located north of Hispaniola, the eastern tip of Cuba, and ESE of Nassau, Bahamas. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for portions of Florida. Check for local weather statements.

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
Forecast Models
Buoy Data SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only!
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (WMP) - http://dayport.wm.llnwd.net/dayport_0025_live"
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (WMP) - mms://216.242.118.141/broadband

Other Resources:

Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City

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

[RoseyT]

"I swear, liberals seem to actually believe there were no hurricanes prior to 2000."

No doubt. I read a post on "their" board which claims Mother Nature "seems to be targeting Bush-land." (Florida and Houston) She's probably considered to be an intellect over there. ROFL

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I swear, liberals seem to actually believe there were no hurricanes prior to 2000.

Well, there is that Karl Rove weather machine run amok...and since Bush didn't sign the Kyoto accords...well, you know.

After going through this summer, I can't wait for winter, plenty of snow, and sub-zero temperatures...I'll never complain about the weather again.

[Peach]

I didn't see anything on the news, but when a lady in the store this evening told me that they were evacuating the "evacuees", I felt like crying for them.

Those poor people.

[laz]

She's probably considered to be an intellect over there.

She's the false goddess the Left worships. Over two millenia ago, infants were sacrificed to this false goddess. Today it's called abortion. There is nothing new under the sun. Wheat and tares, humanity has always consisted of.

A fool is he who worships the creation and not the Creator.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for checking in. You have the fast moving vertical bands now.

[Ditter]

They interviewed several of the NO people who have been living in the dome here on the evening news last night. They were acting strangely. I think they have been listening to Lewis Farrakhan(sp?). Did anyone else in Houston see that?

[topher]

The latest news from NOAA gives hope for the Gulf landfall. The fact the eyewall is not very well formed is a piece of good news.

Any news saying this storm is weaker than expected is welcome at this point...

[kassie]

I saw that. I watched NBC. These people were furious they are being moved to AR. I think they thought they could live here forever.

The idiots STILL don't understand that Reliant is NOT an evacuation area. THAT is why they are being moved to AR. They have told them that, but still they are mad.

[NautiNurse]

Statement as of 8:00 am EDT on September 20, 2005

...Reconnaissance plane about to reach Rita...will determine if it is a hurricane...

[kassie]

Peach, I feel sorry for these people too, but these people are not understanding, it's out of safety they are being moved once again.

Instead of being grateful, the majority are being mean and ugly.

[Ditter]

It looks like the tracks of Rita have been shifted a little to the south. That is good news for Galveston/Houston. The area where they are now forecasting Rita to come ashore is less populated.

[laz]

Instead of being grateful, the majority are being mean and ugly.

Maybe some of them are listening to Calypso Louie. They refuse to evacuate, Houston gets hit, and then the usual suspects can launch into "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People, Part 2".

[realpatriot]

"..the majority are being mean and ugly"

The majority of them started that way.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Where do you think it will head?

I have no idea, but it keeps speeding up and the faster it gets here the more protection we have from the high that's been sitting over us. The faster it comes, the further down the coast it will hit.

[backhoe]

I swear, liberals seem to actually believe there were no hurricanes prior to 2000.

[kassie]

But doesn't that put the Houston area on the hurricane's strong side?

[bert]

Last night the state of Texas determined it might need to send the remaining Katrina refugees in Texas Shelters elsewhere in order to have shelter capacity for Texan Rita evacuees.

[Ditter]

Yes it does but I'll take that to being dead center of all the tracks. lol

[CajunConservative]

I don't blame you but a lot of people don't realize that they are a reality of hurricanes. That is what makes me leave more than just the possible floods or wind damage. It's the stuff in the waters that will more than likely kill you.

[laz]

...Reconnaissance plane about to reach Rita...will determine if it is a hurricane...

I'm surprised she's still a TS. It looks like she might not reach Cat 1 until she enters the gulf. I'd like to consider that reassuring, but Katrina did all of her intensification west of Key West.