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

[CindyDawg]

I can't believe how large she already is. Her bands are almost covering Florida.

[Xenalyte]

"Another cow . . ."

"No, I think that was the same cow."

[DrewsMum]

ok, all you hurricane savvy peeps,,,,please help,,,,my hubby wants to know how to board up windows on brick

[Mo1]

NO/LA does need to worry about the water

But this storm is heading for Texas and the media needs to make that point Loud and Clear

[Gabz]

Sorry, FRiend.

Even hubby, who really misses living in Houston, does not think this is a good time for us to pay a visit :) He lived there during Alicia, and was among the contractors rebuilding Galveston.

[Howlin]

And the "in the aftermath of Katrina, people are preparing"

That's just ridiculous. Katrina was NOT the first hurricane ever......and we certainly have dealt with them for YEARS here on the East Coast without all the mayhem and panic. It's damn insulting to the rest of us.

And -- dare I say it -- New Orleans didn't get that bad a hit FROM THE HURRICANE.

[RDTF]

Rita Cosby? (sorry)

[Howlin]

And you did that all without the help of George W. Bush and FEMA? :-)

[MikefromOhio]

yeah......

I have an uncle and an assortment of cousins who live in the Houston area, and I just told my mom, who has their phone numbers, to tell them to get the H out of H-town.....

[Howlin]

Bastardi.

[Sprite518]

If I lived in Texas, then I would be packing up tonight, and head west.

[Jaded]

Will do. You're in my cell phone. We have 2 cats and a 9 pound Shi-Tzu who thinks knows she's a princess. The we includes my mom.

My child lives in Huntsville. Her roommate's family is in Baytown. So they may evac there. It might be a really full apartment.

We'll know more as things progress. Thank you for your offer.

[Milly]

I thought You were at St Elizabeth Ann Seaton.
But Close enough .

[Gabz]

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

Yikes - hate to admit it also - but I agree with you.

[WoodstockCat]

yep..that wrapping around the eye from West to East is classic strengthening motion..

eye is getting tighter and better and better defined..

Weather Channel reporting that movement till Friday is pretty much a given due to trough over gulf right now, Friday afternoon how much of movement north and how much of an angle is just a guess right now.

[CajunConservative]

I hope he stays there.

[sinkspur]

I was just about to ping you. If you guys need a place to stay, let me know. We've got an extra bedroom, and a couple of couches.

I'm serious about this.

[SouthTexas]

It's past ridiculous, it's an insult to think the people here are helpless.

It is no help to anyone to babble on that way.

[Sprite518]

I just heard on Hannity and Combs this sucker is almost a Cat 3... At the way it is gaining speed this Hurricane should be a strong Cat 5 by Friday.

[hobson]

Ah, I know the wood in the attic is hard as a rock and clear, no knots.

We have a small interior guest bath to huddle in if it gets bad. Two adults, two dogs and a cat in a small space and my husband is claustrophobic...make that one adult, two dogs and a cat in the bath.

I worry most about the trees. We have lots of TALL Magnolias and Pines surrounding us.