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Locked on 09/22/2005 3:40:46 AM PDT by Jim Robinson, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1489163/posts |
Posted on 09/21/2005 4:19:11 PM PDT by 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
The head weather gal at WOAI TV Ch.4 here in San Antonio just broke in with an update.
WOAI has a reporter on the recon. plane and she just got a text message saying that all of the "hurricane hunters" up there right now are "absolutely STUNNED" at the intensity of this storm. Winds at 10,000 ft. are over 200 mph.
TO ALL EVACS. COMING TO SAN ANTONIO-
Go to McCreless Mall at I-37 and E. Southcross Rd. to our "Shelter Hub" to get directions and everything you need on which shelters are open and which ones are already full.
GO TO McCreless Mall FIRST. It is the City's STAGING AREA for everyone coming to San Antonio.
I did not say I was hoping it would go to NOLA. I said I was wondering what it would do and would it be less damage overall since everything there is already damaged and the people are evacuated. I also said I was ignorant of what it would actually do if that is to occur.
At least I am not so stupid as to not know I'm stupid. :)
Thanks and good luck. I know how nerve wracking the waiting can be with one of these boogers bearing down on you. Get some good sleep now while you have AC.
LOL---you can send Eaker after the trouble makers, but for goodness sakes, don't send humblegunner!!!
Of course if all ya'll get into it...I will sic LadyX, and Brad's Gramma after everyone...with El Gato to clean up the mess!
And get it in small bills. I heard that after one hurricane vendors who were selling ice were cleaning up because they didn't or wouldn't make change, and people ended up paying 20$ a bag because they didn't have anything smaller.
LQ
Call me crazy, but I can just picture an old Texan standing on his porch, chewing tobacco in his mouth looking at the storm approaching, and saying in a low grumble, "So yer what all the noise is 'bout? All right old girl, show me what ya got." *Spit tobacco towards storm* "Ain't you heard? This is Texas. We take don't take no guff from no storm."
Thank you.
Where are you at in SA? I am on the northwest side.
Yeah no kidding... I wonder why the news media is so slow to respond to the intensity of this storm???
Godspeed.
Fortunately, my Jeep can swim. :-P
Greta to talk about it now on FNC.
WOW!
Whoa!
They just seem slow because we're quite responsive and fast. That's why they are the old media, and we are the new media.
I'd call it 50 miles to Baytown on the bay; perhaps 75 miles or so to the Gulf at Galveston Island. She's shading things a bit.
They were the same way with Katrina. And lots of folks in Ms/La died because of it.
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