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

[laz]

I'm going to wait till tomorrow to see the forcast. They are saying that it will likely go to a Cat 4 by tomorrow and make landfall with 145mph winds. Hit Houston propper with 115. I'll ride that senario out.

And if it doesn't weaken?

I said it on the earlier thread, and I'll say it again: Waiting to see if Rita weakens is like standing in front of an oncoming car and waiting to see if it'll slow down. Even worse, because with the car, you can jump out of the way at the last moment. You can't evacuate from a hurricane at the last moment.

[nhoward14]

Technically, TX has been a Federal State of Emergency since just after Katrina hit.

Maybe we could get upgraded to Super-State of Emergency?

[Howlin]

Folks who evacuated won't get home.

Folks who don't just may be dead.

[Txsleuth]

Did you say power outages, as in, I won't be able to be on FR...and freep with my friends?

NOW, I am worried...freep withdrawal is an ugly, ugly sight to behold.

[STARWISE]

That was aviation piloting excellence .. on spot perfect landing. Bravo to that captain!!

[bwteim]

My hat's off to you for your work.

[LizardQueen]

I suggest V = VSAM :lol:.

LQ

[oceanview]

well yes, I understand. its a forecast after all, a prediction into the future, the very nature of which implies the word "could".

look, don't shoot the messenger here. I was only posting what the guy said.

[blam]

"I meant it as a testament to the toughness of Texans, they are truly a breed apart."

I understand and agree. I lived in the Houston area 20+ years before moving here.

[Txsleuth]

Thank God, you guys are scooting....I thought we were gonna lose jrabbit all day..

jrabbit, are you okay?

I was getting worried about you getting worried...

[MamaB]

That is what I thought--an innie!

[No Blue States]

But they found something? Good for them,its a long drive but worth every mile if it saves their lives.

So essentially every motel in the entire state is booked solid. El Paso and Amarillo will fill up too if they havent.
Ive never seen this happen.

[Pure Country]

Just a thought, for those who can't find a room or afford one, sleeping in your car seems ok. Look for one of the better truck stops, they are stocked with a lot of one serving meals, and for about $5.00 will allow showers. Park under the lights,, good nights sleep for next to nuthing.

Park as close to the entrance of the truckstop as you can AND under a light. Do not park out among the semis or even close if you can help it. One person should stay awake--on watch--all night. It's not usually the truckers that you have to watch out for.

[duffthor]

F should be FidoNet!

[Dog]

That sick Joe Scarbough on MSNBC is showing dead bodies from NO....I am stunned that they showed covered dead bodies.

[pepperdog]

Do you, or anyone else on this thread, know where the refineries on the coast are located? I have the rig locations but haven't found the refineries.

[ntnychik]

Post 77 UH-OH ping

[duffthor]

Z should be Z-Modem!

[cowtowney]

Mayor Nagin has just ordered all residents back to Galveston.

[grey_whiskers]

UNIVAC

Young pups don't know anything these days.

Yeah, but Crays running UNIX do a bang-up job of weather forecasting.

Full Disclosure: NEC is even better at that ;-)