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

[WestCoastGal]

There are people scrambling trying to find hotel rooms. I heard from a lady today who told me the only thing available is north of Dallas. There is nothing else in the state anywhere. You all in Dallas may be able to help those looking for rooms etc.

Anyone thinking of leaving should try to make contact with family, FRiends or get to another state ASAP. A person in the oil industry told me this one is not to be messed with. It probably is coming ashore at Matagorda. Everything on the east side is subject to storm surge. Don't wait until the last minute when traffic will be a mess.

[Semper911]

I wonder what a trampoline looks like in a hurricane?

A UFO.

[tjbravo]

Quick question for those of us currently in the eye-path of this bad girl...

Can anybody give a brief summary of Texas law regarding mandatory evacuation? If we are forced to leave, can we come back the next day? Two days? I am looking for information typical to rural areas, as I do not live in or near Houston for a hundred miles or so...

Very glad for the new law clarification on "traveling with firearms!"

BTW - VERY cool hurricane forecast link:
http://hurricane.methaz.org/hurapak/

[dandelion]

Oh, alrighty then - here's my location! I'm looking for this thing to track directly over our little ranch at tropical storm strength... it's adventure time!

[CindyDawg]

I asked that once and someone mentioned a gigantic Frisbee:')

[alnick]

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?

When I was returning home following Katrina, I saw trees snapped in half and highway signs down as far north as 220 miles. That is extremely unusual. We stopped at a restaurant in Meridian, about 200 miles inland, and the waitress told us Katrina blew through there as a category 2.

Usually I go about 100 miles inland. For Katrina we saw forecasts of the area we were planning to go to getting hit hard by Katrina as a strong hurricane so we went on to Tennessee (550 miles north) to visit family.

[Gabz]

Rob't's wacky sense of humor to the rescue again!!!!

[CedarDave]

A must read!

(with tongue firmly in cheek)

[Arrowhead1952]

From last night
*****
I thought maybe you had run away from home........;^)

****
1,047 posted on 09/19/2005 3:38:37 PM CDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
****
NO. I did not run away from home.

We had most of the TX national guard activated today for Rita. 60 people in my unit got called up today. Originally, I was one but we already had an order to expect 24 hour operation on the civil service side.

I may be sleeping at work for the next five or six days. We have several gulf coast evacuees coming to our home either tomorrow or Thursday. The house will be FULL.

[NTegraT]

My son lives in Sealy and I live in Katy. We are leaving and going to Austin area. He's on a hill in a doublewide and the wind never stops there on a still day.
I would definitely go get them and then there'd be no worrying on your part or theirs. Be safe.

[Dog Gone]

Do more than one Freeper who you trust, who lives OUTSIDE of this area...have your phone number? Both home and cell?

One does. About 100 miles from my location, so that should be far enough.

But that does remind me. Everyone in harm's way should make sure they recharge their cellphones on Friday. Service may be spotty afterward, but you need a charged phone for that to even matter.

[CajunConservative]

I am also in Lake Charles. I have plans to bugout to either family north in DeRidder or to my sister in Lafayette depending on where this storm goes.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

if my sister will take me and the kids :), she lives off of Harwood and 121. My parents live off of Haltom Road and 820, other friends off of Pipeline near 121 and more near where we used to live--just south of Downtown Fort Worth by the hospitals. I graduated from L.D. Bell. :)

[SaveTheChief]

I am near you..What are your thoughts on leaving?

I've lived here for three years and have never experienced hurricane. I am a bit spooked. I live on the top floor of an apartment building, and though I think everything will probably be safe, I probably don't want to take any chances since I do not have any supplies to ride out any damage the storm might cause. I am kind of thinking of heading out of town with my laptop, some clothes, and a few valuables, and spending the weekend in Oklahoma. I'll know more at this time tomorrow, and will make my final decision Thursday morning.

How about you? What are your thoughts?

[geopyg]

I seem to recall huge swaths of forest flattened by Hugo driving through central South (or North?) carolina.

[WestCoastGal]

lol/ping

[SouthTexas]

Very good, have forwarded to all that might be affected.

[sinkspur]

Are you the Red Cross? lol

We're better. Sometimes people ride out storms because they're too ashamed to admit they don't have anywhere to go or don't have the money to go.

There's no excuse for staying behind now.

And, for God's sake, take your animals with you!!

[NTegraT]

I'm leaving so my family doesn't worry. I went to Target yesterday off 99 and it was empty, not the shelves, customers. I went to Walmart today and the shelves were empty and store full of crazy customers. I'm mostly worried about the tree 10 feet from my house. And all the "junk" in my backyard. Ugh.

[SaveTheChief]

I have no idea what happened to the formatting ....