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

[NautiNurse]

I heard a category 4 will have 115 mph sustained winds in Conroe and Katy.

You need to state your source. "I heard" is not appropriate on this thread.

[Howlin]

Be ready and stay safe.

[Gabz]

Did get more from here than anything on TV.

Same here - and I live on the east coast :)

[Jaded]

I'm gonna see how it shakes out, sweetie.

Did the Walmart thing last night, moved stuff in the back yard tonight. Made the list of what we will take, if we leave. Just gotta decide if both of us will drive. Right now I'm backing up my important docs on the coolest little gadget I ever bought.... 2 portable 40G hard drives.

I am exhausted. I've never left for a storm before. There seems to be panic out there.... then again, if this had happened 1 month ago, most of us would just do the basics and wait it out. It's just weird.

[Syntyr]

Good. For some reason I dont think there will be much looting in Texas! :-)

[Gabz]

Farakhan wants the Red Cross destroyed

I saw that - I thought hubby was going to throw something at the TV.......

[CindyDawg]

We mark and keep them. As soon as I can afford it though I want to install security shutters.

[SouthTexas]

Thought you had noted your elevation in the "local" hurricane thread. We are at 44', more or less and about 10-12 miles from the closest bay. A high spot in the surrounding countryside. The oldtimers KNEW what they were doing when they laid out this town.

[Howlin]

It may come as a surprise to liberals, but many people who live in coastal areas understand very well what a hurricane can do and how to prepare for it.

Isn't that the truth.

BTW, did they happen to slyly infer that Jeb has an "inside" at the White House and that's why he had such good results?

[DrewsMum]

i lived in south miss during frederic----went through and it NOT FUN,,,,an trailer home across the street from our house literally exploded,,,,,i was 5 and scared to death and remember it vividly,,,,,pine needles stuck in brick like mini-missiles,,,,whew,,,

[Sam Cree]

I believe barrel bolts on plywood which has been cut to size to insert in a recessed window can work very well also. The barrel bolts are fastened to the outside of the plywood and are pushed home into holes drilled into the masonry. A fairly simple system.

Hadn't heard about the hurricane clips until this thread, sounds really easy - are they rated for very strong storms?

[umbagi]

We have the freezer full, as full as can be, with clean milk jugs filled with water. Will hold the cold and you can drink it if needed.

After nearly losing a freezer-full of beef and venison one year, we began a similar process. We have about 30 1-gallon jugs, w/ quite a few in the freezer and the rest in the storage shed out back. Mrs. u rotates them all through the watering of her plants, so all the water is replaced and the jugs are inspected and washed once or twice a year.

Hunker down...

[SouthTexas]

That's BAD! But typical.

[blam]

A word of advise.

Have someone outside the impact area as a contact point for all your friends and relatives.
Communications of any kind are tough or non-existant.
If possible, give them your FR access codes and have them contact us here on FR.
I use my son in Los Angeles. He is a FReeper and reported in for me when I lost power and telephone for days during/after Katrina.

[Dog Gone]

I could walk swim there if I had to.

Thanks for the correction. But if I have to swim, there will be balls of fire ants and not a few snakes. Even some gators.

Guess the wife is on her own...

[DrewsMum]

k, no plywood here,,,,um i guess at this point tape is laughable,,,,?????

[Arrowhead1952]

Plenty of good German folks there, and great German food, ie BBQ.

[mathluv]

No, I am in Longview - way north of there.

[Howlin]

They were wrong last time, weren't they?

[RummyChick]

Nagin with Cooper blaming Feds again. He wouldn't cop to mistakes. Said the mistake was assuming they would get help within three days.