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

[Types_with_Fist]

Out to the Atlantic I believe.

[realpatriot]

You bet! I am beginning to research CableOne cable internet, but the Biloxi phone lines are having problems. Imagine that! I'm beginning to feel "abnormal" is "normal".

[Clara Lou]

Wherever it strikes Texas [if it does] may it deliver me a few inches of rain. I've forgotten what the stuff is like.

[Tall_Texan]

I don't think Florida has any real worries about this storm (except Pensacola, particularly if Jim Cantore shows up again). This should be just a stiff breeze and some rain rolling through south Florida. The real question is where it goes from there.

As hot as it still is in Texas, I can only assume that there is still plenty of warm Gulf waters for her to intensify once it passes the keys. I'd be perfectly glad to see Texas take the hit this time rather than the poor victims of Katrina. We're Texans. We can handle it.

[tiredoflaundry]

There is never a Q storm.

Why is that? Not enough "q" names?

[Dog Gone]

Philippe is southeast of Rita, and there is no Q storm for this year.

[NautiNurse]

Why is that? Not enough "q" names?

Quite possibly.

[tiredoflaundry]

Quite possibly.

LMAO!

[Texas Termite]

Boy! Can we ever relate to that!! None here SW of San Antonio except in spots. Hondo almost flooded off the map last week, we're 12 miles away and got 1/2".

I hate to see a hurricane hit anywhere, but if it does, I only hope some good comes of it in the form of much needed rain for many areas of S. Texas.

Nana

[Tall_Texan]

In 1995, the last storm named was Hurricane Tanya.

Is the Congressional Black Caucus still demanding "black" hurricane names? Maybe we could switch to those once we run out.

Hurricane Aayilah Hurricane Beyonce Hurricane Chaniqua Hurricane Deshondra...

[Dog Gone]

I tend to agree, although the NHC still has western Louisiana within the probability cone, although at the edges it should be considered a "possibility" cone.

This one definitely has my attention because I'm located on the northward line of the projected path.

But it's way too early to hit the panic button. A landfall at Brownsville will only mean an unusual eastern breeze in Houston. Not really noticeable.

[mathluv]

But you alternate male/female names.

[twin2]

A tropical storm watch just went up for Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Bryan Norcross (our south florida weather go-to guy) noted a couple of things...first of all it is crossing the very warm waters of the Bahamas. This area has a history of storms gaining strength rather quickly. Also, most of the convection is north of the center. He believes that they may shift the eye, and thus the future track more north. He would also not be surprised if south florida mainland gets upgraded to a hurricane watch or warning.

That being said, this feels an awful lot like Katrina two weeks ago. We all though "no big deal", then when you are going through it you realize the power of even a cat 1 storm.

[Miss Marple]

I thought I heard the Fox weather guy this morning say that the next hurricane after Rita would be "Hurricane Stan."

Now, I am sorry, but that is a ridiculous name for a hurricane. Stan! LOL!

[shield]

Here are the 18Z models. Again, I removed the worthless BAMD/BAMM/BAMS/ETA/LBAR models and focus on the dynamic models. All the models you see taking Rita WSW toward the Yucatan and BoC are iterations of the NOGAPS model.

[NautiNurse]

I don't think Florida has any real worries about this storm (except Pensacola, particularly if Jim Cantore shows up again).

I'm not so sure the families of the 11 Floridians killed in So. FL when little Cat 1 Katrina rolled through with 20" of rain, collapsing an overpass, and leaving more than 1 million without electricity would agree with you.

[tiredoflaundry]

It would sure be a wacky storm!

[Tall_Texan]

But you alternate male/female names.

I'm "Old School". ;P

[Revel]

Your starting anotherone...LOL You may be in for a long week. Lets hope it does not head for Huston as some models suggest. Talk about Gas shortages.

[blam]

"You don't need to prune your trees in the next year or so, right?"

Trees? Who has trees?