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

[Tall_Texan]

I've seen some other Cat 5 storms like Bret and Allen whip up a bunch of hysteria only to whimper out as it reached the coast and come ashore as a Cat 1 or Cat 2. Locally damaging wind and rain but not Katrina II by any stretch of the imagination.

If you live within 50 miles of the coast, I'd suggest boarding up and moving inland but I think there is a lot of folks shellshocked from Katrina that think Rita will be as bad. I just don't think it will. If it hits the midsection of the Texas Gulf Coast and veers northwest as some forecasters predict, you'll get a lot of wind and some downed limbs and power lines but the hurricane will be long forgotten except in the initial impact zone within three weeks.

[DrewsMum]

thank you thank you --- i just told my hubby and he said great idea,,,if we can still get them ;0) we gonna try,,,anyone know what time home depot is opening tomorrow??

[spectre]

Arkansas is putting the ones from Houston at Ft. Chaffee. It's nice and clean there. Arkansas is going to have to get in line to be reimbursed for their expenses.

sw

[Dog Gone]

I do have an open question, does anyone know how the evacuation will work on Highway 6? Do they basically close it and do outflow all the way up to 290?

There aren't any plans in place to do that, at least not yet.

In case anyone doesn't know it, where Highway 6 crosses Interstate 10, there are major construction delays. Like a half hour during non-rush hour traffic. As an evacuation route, I'd expect a three hour delay just to get past that choke point.

Far better to find a different way to head north to 290.

[Xenalyte]

But see, I'm still at work - and actually working! (I'm applying for continuing legal education credit in Virginia for some courses we're presenting at the retreat this weekend.)

[Semper911]

we cut them tight and hammer a cut 2x4 over them and in. It's hard to describe. There are no places to nail so they are wedged in.

Yeah, I follow you. That would definitely work.

Drewsmum, see #1551, and maybe CindyDawg can explain further if you need it.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

No I wasn't aware - thanks for the info

[hobson]

Where did you hear that?

[Txsleuth]

Aren't you nice offering to take pets as well....

That is what kept so many from leaving NO---

[CindyDawg]

Actually I'm probably in one of the best places in Brownsville, as far as flooding goes. I think the map showed about 10 feet ASL. I'm less than a mile from water though and live across the street from a resaca (a little river). I've been here about 15 years and water has come up to the garage but not in. A neighbor did tell me that at one time they had about 2 feet of water. She said they thought their homes were protected but theives came up the resaca in canoes.

[flowergirl]

I'm not sure how far I am from Galveston...have driven there in 4 hours before... my girls were in Jackson for Katrina and it was a cat 1 there@ 200 miles from NO. What
steps should I take? Prepare for power outages? Thanks

[Howlin]

Mysterious ways, all that. :-)

[flowergirl]

I'm not sure how far I am from Galveston...have driven there in 4 hours before... my girls were in Jackson for Katrina and it was a cat 1 there@ 200 miles from NO. What
steps should I take? Prepare for power outages? Thanks

[gpapa]

Buoy DRYF1 9:00 pm Eastern
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=dryf1&meas=wdpr&uom=E

[Sprite518]

I am not sure...

[Howlin]

I'll be "rolling" in a rental truck.

[Gabz]

Please put me on your ping list.

Done

[groanup]

Giddings! Giddings, Texas! One of my favorite places in the world. I spent many a summer there.

[Howlin]

Can you put your location (or close to it) in Texas in your tagline? Thanks.

[bmwcyle]

Not as much fun.