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

[tjbravo]

Ahhh. September 1 saw a clarification go into effect regarding Texas guns. A license/permit is not required in a situation where someone is "traveling." Up until now that was very vague. (Still somewhat vague, but better.) You are determined to be traveling if you are in a moving vehicle, you are not commiting a crime, and the gun must be concealed. There have been a few posts about it, but I think that the Harris County DA had threatened to arrest people anyway. Not sure if he has since retracted that statement.

[RummyChick]

Bastardi says this will possibly outdo Carla.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

ping for later

[snowsislander]

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

I believe that the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina had a very large number of trees downed by Hurricane Hugo, sixteen years ago tomorrow:

Francis Marion National Forest

South Carolina

Francis Marion is a national forest under construction, and the contractor is Mother Nature. On September 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo's 135-mile-per-hour winds pummeled the forest, uprooting or snapping in two enormous old trees covering tens of square miles. Most young trees survived the devastation, and today, visitors can witness nature's fascinating rebuilding process.

[Dog Gone]

And just where in the Houston area are you? South, southwest, on the bay?

I'm in the western suburbs of Houston. Elevation 104 feet. My biggest danger is crap flying in through the windows that I can't protect at over 100 mph. If it looks like a direct hit on my house, I won't be here to report on it at the time.

I'm currently sitting about four feet from a large upstairs window with two large oak trees just a few feet away from that. They wouldn't give any notice before coming in.

[Robert A Cook PE]

But, consider also that (in 42) they built houses to last either 80 years (no plywood, tarpaper and composite glued waferboard and "skinny" 2x4's!) or they built them to only 3 years (to make do for emergency barracks for transients during the war!)

So, remeber your house is made BEFORE the cheap post-war Levittown mass produced pieces of light-weight copy-cats..

[tjbravo]

I heard a guest on Hannity radio show today say that he thinks this storm will break records, and possible will be the lowest pressure ever recorded.

[Carolinamom]

Hugo downed trees and power lines north of Charlotte, NC. as well.

[Howlin]

Well, I'm not getting any "takers" so I presume this is the "rich Republican" group of Freepers. :-)

I'm still waiting. I've got gas money!

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

That would be St. Michael's! I went there in the early '80s when Fr. Michael Irwin was there. That's a huge Church now. My sister and her family go there, too.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Just talked to my brother who lives in the Charterwood area, which actually I suspect will do ok, but he told me he is getting out tomorrow, going to my grandma's in Shreveport...

I am nervous for my cousins in Pasadena and Pearland...and my stupid niece living in Manvel who won't talk with her mom and dad...I hope she gets her butt and her babies to my brother's in time...

[gpapa]

Be safe Dog Gone. Maybe you could join your wife at the hospital. Might be safer there. They would probably be looking for volunteers to help with patients evacuated from other hospitals.

God Speed

[Mo1]

Will all your Texans put your locations in your TAGLINES????

I just turned on Hannity and Colmes and regardless how many times the Weather guy keeps telling them this Hurricane is heading for TEXAS ... these nit wits keep asking about New Orleans

I screaming at the TV again ... gosh I hate the media

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

thanks, anyway. :^>

[deport]

I realize Pine Bluff, AR is about an 8 hour drive from Galveston,

---

I'll be up in North Little Rock tomorrow, up and back. I'd holler but I want to get back tomorrow afternoon/evening. Coming from the Beaumont area about 6 1/2 hrs up I hope.

[IamConservative]

If it goes the way it looks and is as strong as some suggest, it could pass through Sealy as a good Cat 2. I have them getting ready tomorrow. Thursday AM, we'll make the call. They just retunred from a 2,000 mile vacation trip, I'll get them a room and tell them which way to aim the Suburban.

Thanks for the insights.

[DrewsMum]

not rich, just proud

[Howlin]

Much as I hate to admit this, Bastardi has been right on the money for the last few storms.

And just last week he said we'd be talking about THIS storm this very day.

[WoodstockCat]

I wonder what a trampoline looks like in a hurricane?

A UFO.

From Twister: "Cow..."...

[MikefromOhio]

Rita's radar appearance has improved markedly since I looked last (around 6 PM)


http://radar.weather.gov/radar/loop/DS.p19r0/si.kbyx.shtml