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

[Howlin]

[hobson]

We have an outdoor ceiling fan on our pergola. Should we a) take it down or b)remove the blades or c) duck?

[MikefromOhio]

now THAT is interesting....

we could definitiely use the refining capacity.

[Howlin]

Did you get a generator?

[Howlin]

Not sure.

[Tarheel]

Someone on FNC tonight said that parts of Houston are below sea level. Do any of the Texas Freepers know how much of the city is below sea level and do they have levees and such as in NOLA.

[onyx]

Thanks. We had 2 really good radios but mistakenly thought they came already charged in the box...lol.

I have since bought a colored, battery operated tv and also charged up the two new radios. We were stuck with one damn radio that only received FM stations -- hence, stuck with NPR.

I can't tell you the number of times NPR made me so mad that I wanted to throw that radio or smash it, but it was all I had...lol.

[Sam Cree]

"We have pre-cut plywood, but we live in Florida."

Yeah, true, that's one of the ways to tell a Floridian, if they keep extra sheets of plywood around, just in case.

[FlJoePa]

In a pretty small townhome about 500 yards from the beach, I may have nearly a $1/2 million in equity, but I don't have room for a generator Dawn!

[SouthTexas]

It was. ;)

I don't buy into the "store bought" images on TV anyway, don't really care what they look like just give the the news and not opinions.

Good luck if you choose to pursue.

[blam]

"* Gas - get a big portable gas tank and fill it up. Obviously top off your car's tank. You will need this gas to go get the gubbmint ice ;) "

Yup!

Right now, buy all the gasoline you will need for your generator for 4-5 days. When we did finally start getting gasoline, there were long lines and limits for each customer.

BTW, the local sheriff said that anyone found in a gas line with a gun would be arrested and charged with armed robbery.

[gpapa]

Contact your local emergency ambulance services. The entire Southeastern part of Texas has now been declared a disaster area, so you would be eligible for coverage up to 100% of emergency transportation services.

[Gabz]

except you won't be laughing if the windows don't break and you can't get the goo off EVER.

I learned that nasty lesson the hard way - I finally got the tape residue off my front door this past spring.............from ISABEL........

[Howlin]

Order this now:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006I5TD/qid=1127270068/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-4875961-6351127?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

[Txsleuth]

It was a news blurb... and they just said that Washington was entertaining the idea...

[sinkspur]

My niece in Houston is going with her fiancee to visit his sister in Dallas. It's probably not far enough away, but better than being in Houston

Yikes! Dallas better be far enough away! I'm near Ft. Worth.

Seriously, there'll be wind and lots of rain, but 300 miles from the coast ought to take the wind out of any Cat.4's sails.

[onyx]

Yes, one that sits OUTSIDE on the deck when or if needed. Not taking any chances with carbon monoxide.

*** Also recommend buying the battery operated little fans. Even the small ones that the nail salons use to dry nail polish.

[Howlin]

Onyx just got one at Amazon, I think.

But you can find them at even drug stores for under $50.

[Syntyr]

"I am sure the looters are rubbing their hands together right now, in anticipation... "

Go ahead punk Make My Day!

[Howlin]

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1982277412.1127270176@@@@&BV_EngineID=cceeaddfkdefkehcegecegjdghldghh.0&vertical=SEARS&sid=I0093600040004300085&pid=05740045000