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Posted on 09/21/2005 1:36:24 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Category 3 Hurricane Rita became the fifth major hurricane of the 2005 season during the night. Hurricane Rita threaded the needle through the Florida Straits and moved into the Gulf of Mexico. Storm damage in the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula was light, with scattered power outages, scattered tornados, and mild to moderate flooding.
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Galveston County TX and New Orleans. Additional evacuation orders in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area are anticipated throughout the day.
Crude oil prices reacted as oil producers shut down and evacuated workers from platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
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 Eastern Gulf of Mexico
Buoy Data Western Gulf of Mexico
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Images:
Storm Floater IR Loop
GOM WV Loop
GOM IR Still Image
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Still Image
Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)
KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA
Additional Resources:
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
Hurricane City
Wxnation Houston
| 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:
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18
Traffic is out of control. I left work and could barely get down Holcombe. Immediately encountered an ambulance stuck in my lane that nobody could/would let get through. Then somebody pulled up on the other side with a flat. Then there were some asians on my side trying to jump a car. It was pretty much a jam all the way from Almeda to Stella Link.
I know what you mean about those houses...I see them every day that I drive to my daughter's house at Marine Creek Lake...
I NEVER would have bought there.
No camping gear, that must be someone else. If you don't hear from me after the storm, don't assume the worst. We won't have any electricity so I won't be doing any freeping. Our elect. goes off in a hard rain storm so it will surely go during Rita. We will NOT I repeat Not sit here for weeks without elec.
I think some were never fixed from Katrina. Maybe this was this one?
Looks very close to where Rita is right now. I would post a diagram but don't want to take up space on the tread.
Hmmmm, merely 16' storm surge? I do know that waves are forecast averaging 38'. 0.13' low tide 2:57 P.M. 23rd, 1.80' high tide at 1:57 A.M. 24th, 0.19' low tide at 4:07 P.M. (times CDT).
"My First Cousin's name is Rita"
My second wife's name is Rita -- I've spent the past 2 days cringeing every time I've heard the name.....
LOL
Just got back and saw this.....
Be careful, friend. Call when you get to Austin. You and Rheo can have a hurricane party and eat chocolate! :-)
Hmmmm, merely 16' storm surge? I do know that waves are forecast averaging 38'. 0.13' low tide 2:57 P.M. 23rd, 1.80' high tide at 1:57 A.M. 24th, 0.19' low tide at 4:07 P.M. (times CDT).
Texas doesn't have any coastal cities 20 feet below sea level, do they?
Unreal...if you look at the latest sat image it looks like an eyewall replacement cycle might be going on...if this is truly the case...she might be bombing out as we speak. If this new eyewall lasts 36-hours it will mean she will have a fresh one upon landfall.
I am thinking 145-sustained/165 gusts at landfall late Friday night early Saturday morning...north of Galveston.
Yes, paying very close attention. There are NO hotel rooms anywhere in Texas. I have spoken with so many frantic people today I am worn out.
I finally decided someone needed to do something!! So, called our local church and they are going to take people in beginning tomorrow. I will be volunteering there tomorrow, so I will have the Dover Monster Mile thread up tonight sometime.
Amen.
Brit nailing Broussard and his fake crying story. When is Russert going to tell the truth?
Someone ping me if anyone posts a good chicken fry. ;-) They don't make 'em here.
Yep.
A storm surge comparable to the surge of Katrina will drown almost every square foot of Galveston, if not every square food.
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