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

[TexasCajun]

Checking in from Seabrook, Tx.

[CindyDawg]

My dad lives west of Houston. When Emily was headed this way all the shelves were empty . I was visiting him and stopped in Wharton and stocked up. I felt kind of bad though caz I kept having to reassure people that they were fine and the storm hadn't made a north turn. Funny how people watch what you buy.

[Dog Gone]

I'm good for a Cat 3 landfall because it'd really only be a Cat 2 by the time it got to my house. Minor roof damage, satellite dish in the pool, that sort of thing.

If it hits as a Cat 4 or 5, I'm probably in trouble. That's huddle in an interior closet kind of trouble and pray that the second floor doesn't collapse on the first floor kind of trouble.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

what side of town are you on again?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Ok - one of you brilliant people tell me this - when the storm hits the coast, how far inland do the winds continue to have maximum strength?

[CedarDave]

Expecting landfall between Houston and Brownsville, TX.

Don't mean to be picky here, but that information really doesn't help much as that's approximately a straight line distance of 300 miles, about 75% or more of the entire Texas coast. Most here are trying to figure the probability of a strike that's more focused. This link shows current probabilities as calculated by the NHC but it will take another 24-36 hours to get a more accurate strike zone.

NHC Strike Probabilities

[Dog Gone]

I've to the extra bedrooms.

My brain said "I've got the extra bedrooms." My fingers typed something else. I've got no better explanation than that.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

You just answered my question...........darn you

[CindyDawg]

Do you have two extra?

[L,TOWM]

Any Houston - Galveston - South East TX FReepers feel like a cozy weekend in the Dallas area, FReepmail me. I've got room for 6, packed in, but the storm surge should'nt make it to Allen... ;-)

[bwteim]

I am not one of the brilliant people, but it depends on forward speed of storm for one as well as original intensity of storm. I think Ivan had 80mph+ sustained and higher gusts in central Alabama, well over 100 miles from coast.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Ok, you don't know me well enough - you were supposed to say, "No TxGirl, your house is going to be fine, the wind will blow just a tiny bit, you'll get a nice rainfall and I guarantee you won't have any damage or lose electricity"

Now you see, that is the way you answer a question......... ;^)

(Ok, so thanks for your answer too)

[RDTF]

And that's your story and you're stickin to it

[Flyer]

I'm just outside the southwest corner of 610 - Meyerland, Westbury area.

[txhurl]

Wish FR came with a 'beam up' function so we could wisk away folks like you...

[GRRRRR]

From FOX News...Orlando Selinas in KeyW or Marathon..LIVE VIDEO of a strip of aluminum soffit flapping in the wind...you would have thought it was an entire building gone with the wind the way he was hyping it...

I'm headed to TX for work over the weekend...more when I get there on THUR. G

[LadyPilgrim]

We were without power 3 days with Ivan, and we're in Bham.
No other damage.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Local Orlando news (WFTV) said it looks like with the current track it will hit JUST south of Houston. The meteorologist said it is the best case scenario if that path holds even though no place is a good place for a big storm to hit. I will be praying for all in its path.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Narrator: In A.D. 2005, weather conspiracy was beginning. 

Mayor Nagin: What happen ?
Senator Landrieu: Somebody set up us the flood. 
Governor Blanco: We get signal.
Mayor: What !
Governor: Main screen turn on.
Mayor: It's you !!
ROVE: How are you gentlemen !!
ROVE: All your bus are belong to us.
ROVE: You are on the way to destruction.
Mayor: What you say !!
ROVE: You have no chance to survive make your time.
ROVE: Ha Ha Ha Ha ...
Governor: Mayor !!
Mayor: Take off every 'bus'!!
Mayor: You know what you doing.
Mayor: Move 'bus'.
Mayor: For great justice.

[Michael Goldsberry]

Thanks for the prayers.