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

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Ditter, I'm in Fort Bend County - near the Brazos......... since I'm a newbie to the area do you think we would just get some wind and rain? Or are tornados formed on the east side of a hurricane? I'm getting a bit antzy here

[onyx]

Thanks. Sounds the same as my weather. I just keeping watching that damn Rita.

[numberonepal]

Tape is an old wives tale to avoid windows shattering. It doesn't work when a 6" diameter limb comes through it at TS speeds. I've seen pine needles pierce single pane glass windows during hurricanes.

[john316]

I lived at 65th and heard's lane(Galveston) durring alicia, wasn't too bad 'till the plywood I used to board up got torn off.

[john316]

I lived at 65th and heard's lane(Galveston) durring alicia, wasn't too bad 'till the plywood I used to board up got torn off.

[bitty]

Tape does nothing but help keep the glass from breaking into small pieces if it breaks. Stay in an interior room away from the windows

[NautiNurse]

Don't use tape on windows. Completely useless for anything, and duct tape adhesive is nearly impossible to remove. If shutters/plywood won't work, consider plexiglass with brackets.

[Alkhin]

Hey there neighbor! Hubby and I are talking about this ourselves. for us, if its a cat 3 or more, we are leaving town. If lower, then I think we might be boarding up and sitting it out. I dont know what the specs are for the subdivision we are in, but it might be a good thing to call and find out...

Alkhin, from around the corner

[jpsb]

Once Galveston orders evacuation, and they will do it early, locals further inland are prevented/discouraged from leaving until Galveston is cleared, makes sense, Galveston first then the rest of Galveson county later. I remember Allen (from Sea Brook) trafic leaving Galveston for days, San Leon locals tell me, during Allen cops prevented trafic from San Leon entering 146 until 146 could handle it. I do not know if that is urban legon or the truth, girl friend swears ants have stocked up and are deep in ground, she trusts the ants. I trust posters on FR.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Hey there - the creek runs right behind your house! How high has it gotten since you've been there?

I called today to check on flood insurance - we're not in a flood plain but heck, we have a creek behind us and a lake in front of us..........duh

[jpsb]

If you are in heavily wooded area, would that lessen wind to the point that fly debree will not be a problem?

[numberonepal]

The ants aren't as dumb as they look. When you're sitting on the porch Wednesday night and you hear no birds, you may want to think about leaving.

[NautiNurse]

heavily wooded area = lots of flying tree limbs.

[johnb838]

How could an ant possibly know?

[AntiGuv]

heavily wooded area = lots of flying trees.

trust me, I know..

[Slip18]

Prayers are out to you, Whyisa! And, of course, to everyone else in the wake of this latest whatever it is now.

[Ditter]

Are you in one of those new subdivisions near 288? There are maps that show the areas where the storm surge will go depending on the strength of the storm. I have been looking for those maps myself. As far as the tornadoes, yes, they are spawned by a hurricane and the NE quadrant is the worst I think. We have some huge trees here in our yard, I am concerned about that too, but there is no way to predict tornadoes.

[onyx]

OK. Good to know. Thanks.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I am off of 99 between 59 and I10..........can you link me to that site though? Thanks so much

[ericthecurdog]

BWWAAAHAHAHA.