Hurricane Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 20 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita is in the Florida Straits, impacting the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for numerous portions of South Florida. Check local weather statements for updates.

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

Rita Forecast Track Archive
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
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband 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)

WTVJ-TV/DT Miami (NBC6)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (CBS 4)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (Fox)

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

Previous Threads:
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[Flyer]

I can't help you with that decision, but make it soon. The evacuation traffic will start to really pick up Thursday morning.

Most of the Houston folks on this thread are staying and you could probably get to Dog Gone's house if yours was damaged.

[Frank_Discussion]

Small world!

[Sally'sConcerns]

You need to pay attention to landfall and depending on where she comes ashore whether you want to take a chance with your life.

[RDTF]

"Pets may be taken but they must be in carriers"

That's great to see. Fyi - Target has this great machine washable pet carrier in all sizes, even large enough for large dogs that pops up (and folds up) for $25. Fits in the back seat of your car and even has a way to buckle it in w/seatbelt.

[Flyer]

I pinged to that info a little bit back on the thread, but it is good to keep it available.

I may repost it again in the morning, too.

Thanks.

[watchwoman]

"Do I need to worry?"

I lived in Corpus when Hurricane Bret came just south of us. (in '99 I think???) Being newbies to the coast we were debating whether to evacuate or not. An internet buddy in South Florida advised me to stay put if it was Cat 1,2, or maybe even a low 3, but get the heck out if a 4 or more. (Bret was a 4 until just before he hit the coast, and we did evacuate.) Hope that helps!

[Txsleuth]

I can't laugh because I know what you are facing is serious...

but your description of the Kroger outing reminded me of the store if there is even a "hint" that in the next month the DFW area might get snow...

OMG--the very next day...the parking lots are PACKED...like people think they will be stuck inside for months!!!

I am from Colorado...so I just put on my boots IF it snows, and go to the store...

[cassie_dc]

I'm in Spring, but my niece just reported that all of the PetsMarts down in the Friendswood/Galveston/Clear Lake area are sold out of kennel crates! She is on her way up here with horse in tow this evening, thinking that the old barn in Friendswood that made it through Alicia might not make it through this one!

[silentknight]

Great Weather Information

http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?showforum=15

http://www5.wright-weather.com/bb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=6

[eastforker]

That was the flood of october'94.

[1riot1ranger]

"I pinged to that info a little bit back..."

I've been trying to keep up with these posts and thought someone probably had posted it as long as it had been out. Probably is a good idea to keep it up or link to it for the late arrivers.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Hi neighbour!

I'm in SW Ok myself!

[watchwoman]

Re your tagline & the King Ranch.

As a matter of fact, The King Ranch was where Hurricane Bret made landfall in the late 90's. (instead of Corpus, thankfully....)

[Abigail Adams]

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not:

Expecting landfall between Houston and Brownsville, TX.

Expected to hit land as a cat 4.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

thanks for the ping! I'd lost that site and was looking for it earlier.

[Michael Goldsberry]

'94, ah. I have a friend in Spring who got 8' in her house on that one.

[bwteim]

Don't know if this has been posted before:

http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/~geoff/hurrframe.html

It covers Hurricane Tracks 1886-2002

From directions:

"Clicking on the map below will display all hurricane tracks that passed near the selected point. The criteria used are that the hurricane track must past within forty five nautical miles of the selected point and that the maximum sustained winds were hurricane force in that area."

[nepdap]

I'm in Fort Bend County, too -- Quail Valley in Missouri City. If Rita stays on her current path, I'm actually thinking that we're going to get the strong, wet northeast side, so I'm actually a little more concerned now than I was yesterday. Headed to Austin, I think!

[mhking]

I'm working on a list of additional streaming links from Texas (most likely Houston & Corpus Christi, but there may be others)...

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

thank you for all of the tips. those are so important. I just hope I can get everything I need packed in my car! gonna see if the vet will give me tranquilizers for our two cats. :)