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

[Aggie Mama]

I have to say this pisses me off. Louisiana couldn't help herself, so we help; and now comes our hour of concern and we get the boot. =(

I hear some NO evacuees on KHOU this morning complaining about how they had to be moved out of the Astro Arena. TFB.

[Txsleuth]

Good---

This report came from Dallas, and I know they have been reporting even before Rita formed that Dallas has had a hard time getting the LA evacuees out of Reunion Arena and other temp shelters..

I think that Mayor Miller isn't real excited about starting that again, before she is done with the LA ones.

[Howlin]

Hey, bud! Thanks for all your input!

[blam]

"Hold up. How far is Dallas from the coast?"

Flight time, 55 minutes on a 737. (Actual distance, don't know)

[samantha]

Lets find that cat and bring him to a DNC meeting.

[Gabz]

texianyankee; RDTF

On the list!!!!!!!

[Aggie Mama]

Dallas is about 400 miles from Houston, so about 450-480 miles from Galveston.

[samantha]

I am glad to hear that, maybe we could keep that info from Nagin.

[Howlin]

Can you all post some links to good Florida maps WITH THE CITY NAMES on them, so those of us learning our way around can have them for reference?

[RoseyT]

Ditto, Aggie Mama. Just told my Dad the same thing.

[Quilla]

Thanks for creating and maintaining these hurricane threads, Nauti Nurse.

I'm saying a prayer that Rita disappears faster than the Rose Law Firm's billing records.

Hey, could you or Howlin please add me to the ping list? Thanks.

[Jaded]

I'm with you on that.

[AppyPappy]

Man that's a haul to evacuate. We are used to evacuating less than 100 miles here on the east coast.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Dallas is about 400 miles from Houston, so about 450-480 miles from Galveston.

This must be aggie math ......................

[Txsleuth]

I takes me 5 hours to drive to Galveston...so I would guess about 300 miles.

[Howlin]

Corpus Christi media links:

http://www.wxnation.com/corpuschristi/

Houston media links:

http://www.wxnation.com/houston/

[SaveTheChief]

289 miles from Galveston to Dallas. I got my number from Yahoo maps.

[Txsleuth]

Would you please add me to the hurricane ping list?

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Wendesday is the day to make the go stay decsion.

Good. Be prepared...be safe...be careful.

[Sally'sConcerns]

Dallas is only about 250 miles from Houston and since Galveston is 50 miles from Houston, you're looking at around 300 miles.

Trust me on that one! I've driven the I-45 route in between Houston and Dallas more times than I care to count.