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

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Can y'all think of anyone else?

Those I know in the Houston area are: Flyer, Xenalyte, Eaker;humblegunner, PetroniDE,Humidston,eastforker,Dog Gone,YCTHouston,Carlos3b,TheMom,TWfromTEXAS,Leapfrog,AndyMeyers,TexasCowboy,RonH,anymouse and me.

[Howlin]

LOL.........aw, that ought to set off some of the posters!

[onyx]

Right on the bluffs of the MS river = Vicksburg. And yet, Kat knocked us for a loop.

[bonfire]

Dang! You have cake. I've got nothin' but 3 Hershey's mini bars and red licorice.

[VeniVidiVici]

people were text messaging and it DID work

If I remember right text messaging did work but I don't think most of the messages were received in a timely manner, if at all.

This was last year in Florida.

[Gabz]

Good night, FRiends. sleep well.

[shield]

Most likely she'll be a strong cat 3 on landfall, don't let all those bogger bear predictions get to you. Landfall will be further south than many expect. Besides, forecast this far out usually don't hold.

[bonfire]

I knew it would. I'm kinda in that sort of mood tonight! Could you tell??? :)

[Termite_Commander]

I'd send you some, but the USPS might lose it. Plus, it might go off on the trip. Sorry. =(

[Brad’s Gramma]

THAT sounds great...I'll keep reading to see if anyone's answered.

[onyx]

Good. Thanks! Let's keep this list and add, ditter, jaded, hobson, texasforever and ...? My mempry wanes...


*** place marking ***

[Texasforever]

Yeah I am watching this monster. Health problems will not allow for an evacuation in our case but we are as prepared as possible and we live on the far north side out of the flood plain so I guess we will grab hold of something and hang on.

[shield]

ME, too...I live down the street from Dog Gone.

[onyx]

I am SO THANKFUL you have replied!

I worry and fret about you as it is!

[bonfire]

Think I'll make a cake tomorrow.

Here's a tip for chocolate icing:

Make your favorite chocolate butter icing then put it in the microwave till it's goopy. Pour it on your cake. Tastes like fudge. Yum.

[DaisyCutter]

What you're missing is where are these reported winds located? Does it say? Are these surface winds, or are they 3 stories up? Since the report doesn't explicitely say, they must be on the surface. Only stands to reason, eh?

Actually, when they compile the winds speeds in and release it as a part of an advisory, the speed that they give are NOT the flight level winds. If you go back and read the NHC discussion bulletins from past hurricanes what you will find is that the wind speed they give for the surface is about 10% slower than flight level winds. They also use dropsondes dropped from flight level to get a more accurate picture of what the surface winds are.

For example, the 11 pm advisory for Rita is a maximum sustained wind of 110 mph. If you take a look at the 11 pm NHC discussion, you will find that the flight level winds were 103 kt (118 mph), and doppler indicated wind speeds in the 105 to 107 kt range. They then apply their 10% "rule" and estimate surface winds at about 95 kts, or about 110 mph.

[fatima]

Safe travel for you Miztiki.Your husband might change his mind.

[bonfire]

Be careful and God Bless. We'll be thinking of you.

[Brad’s Gramma]

California, fatima. I'm safe from this.

Praying ernestly for all of our FReeper friends in TX!!!!!

[Turtleman]

Me too, I'm in La Porte..........Leaving tomorrow for Dallas around noon.