Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III

NHC - NOAA ^ | 21 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous and large Category Five Hurricane Rita is churning westward across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Air Force Reconnaissance indicated the central pressure has dropped to 904mb, making Rita the fifth most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin.

Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from Northern Mexico through the South Louisiana coastline. Galveston TX used school buses to evacuate residents. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in effect along the Texas coastline.

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 Western Gulf of Mexico
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana

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

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA

Additional Resources:

FReeper Sign In Thread Check in to let us know whether you are staying, going, and when you get there
FReepers Offering Lodging To Rita Evacuees People and/or Pet Friendly FReepers Offering Shelter
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
Hurricane City
Wxnation Houston
Galveston Webcams
Golden Triangle Weather Page Provides Galveston Weather, Warnings, Radar, etc.

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 II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[La Enchiladita]

I'm sure you have spent a lot more time on these threads. I see all your hard work and I thank you for bringing so many people together from across this land. God bless you.

[Lazamataz]

Aren't you simply seeing the remnants of Philippe?

One man's remnants is another man's makin's.

[numberonepal]

One thing I heard was to put your ice cream in a trash bag

This is opportunity knocking. Eat it!

[steveegg]

Two HUGE hurricanes, then a flu that kills fully half of us.

And then Hillary gets elected.

Just frickin' shoot me now.

How do you expect me to survive that without your unique brand of humor?

[Flyer]

Very cool!

Remind me to ask about that after the storm.

[Severa]

Ahh ok thanks *s* If our base (NAS Brunswick) closes, we're getting shipped to NAS Jacksonville, so we'll need to be read up on hurricane stats.

[SVTCobra03]

There is probably a pretty good chance that Rita will spawn several tornadoes in Oklahoma.

[Lazamataz]

Why should I prove anything to someone who lies about timestamps.

[Delta Dawn]

Now that is a Dooms Day scenario

>affixing tin hat appropriately<

[TeleStraightShooter]

[andysandmikesmom]

No, I wont shut up...and when you wish for a city to die, you wish for the people within that city to die...if you dont like my making that leap, tough...

[La Enchiladita]

I am trusting Him for you, John. Fear not. I offer my faith to Him and in Him, I raise my voice in supplication, John. God be with you, brother. May His light shine upon you and upon this nation.

[Lazamataz]

unique brand of humor?

You checkin' out Kozak?

[Flyer]

I may point it out a window if the timing with the storm and daylight works out.

[BamaFan]

It's an interesting table, but it is outdated. Ivan and Katrina should be listed as 5's that never made landfall as 5s. In addition, I believe that Andrew has been "adjusted" to be considered a 5.

[Txsleuth]

Something about that post of yours, just sounded so....

PAINFUL!!!! Lol

[numberonepal]

Thank you for the perspective. People sometimes have a tough time with historical perspective and our lack of long term data.

[La Enchiladita]

There are many prayer threads, but in reality God belongs everywhere and God is everywhere.

[RDTF]

That might be Phillippe - it isn't considered a threat. They don't talk much about hurricanes that aren't threatening land. I am amzed how many are ou ther4e right now! I clicked on the link at the very top of the thread (NOAA) and found there is even a hurricane named Max (my Min-Pins name :)