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

[floriduh voter]

Not muggy here. You can keep it. Rita has a really scary eye now. Yesterday, her eye wasn't so hot. Texas did a proper evacuation. Everyone is in place. The new Fema guy from Miami knows his stuff.

[Lazamataz]

At least 12 more hours of strengthening... Probably top winds over 190MPH.... Nuts....

This is gettin' into tornado territory....

[blam]

"Tomball is approx 35 mi NW of Houston. Should not be a huge surge risk, but the wind is going to be fierce."

Just saw Joe Bastardi say that if it make landfall at the present forcasted location that Houston will get 100 mph winds...presently that seems a minimum number. Don't forget those last minute jogs to the east as demonstrated by Ivan, Dennis and Katrina. Incidently, those jogs are so close to land, 30-70 miles out that they're not recognized until after the hurricane passes.

[Sprite518]

I imagine its going to past it... This sucker is going to pound Texas...

[RDTF]

I think so

[Dog]

It really has to make a sharp right to get to me..

We never get an excitment in Jersey....all we got is mob wars.

[Txsleuth]

Waco is south west of me....so it might not get hit too bad...

Personally, I think anyone north of Hunstville probably should stay put...Hunstville is probably safe..

Of course, I could be wrong...dang, Fox is showing Rita now...that eye is very scary..just tell them to hunker down.

We may be discussing a little Rita on the Sunday Thread..LOL, just kidding.

[NonValueAdded]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration ... I read it as reasoned exploration of a cat 5 strike hitting an already damaged area as opposed to adding another chunk of land the size of Great Britian to the damaged coast, a Hobson's choice situation. I didn't see any wish for harm per se.

[Rheo]

Have a safe trip Jaded and see you tomorrow....call me when you are on your way.

[NautiNurse]

Ummm...the pressure is 896-898, third most powerful in the Atlantic basin.

[kpp_kpp]

geez, didn't see any similar reaction to the poster who wanted it to go to mexico.

i like your 'bring it on' attitude towards rita... sure beats my logic. heck lets wipe out the entire southern coast.

[Sprite518]

Yeah an F-4 Tornado...

[mware]

Fox showing rows and rows of school buses taking people out of Galveston.

Thank you God for people with brains that they use.

[Tuxedo]

Yep, an 80-mile wide F3 twister. Ugh.... have lots of friends in Houston and Corpus Christi. Have to also watch those outer bands for the real tornadoes.

[Lazamataz]

One 300-mile-wide tornado.

This is giving me gooseflesh. It's really getting creepy.

[WoodstockCat]

not only that but if it goes up the water way there around Houston it continues to have a power source...it could stall there and just churn..

[cmsgop]

That Low, OMG!

[Dog]

LOL!

[CajunConservative]

People are worried, stressed and feel helpless. We all deal with stress differently. We just have to remember that.

[Milly]

Thanks. I was watching David Finfrock.
I guess we will need to stay tuned To FR as they have the best forecasts so far.