Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part IV

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane Rita continues to threaten the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. The forecast track has shifted slightly to the northeast, increasing the risk to Southwest Louisiana, and a significant portion of the oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Governor Perry is urging all coastal residents between Beaumont and Corpus Christi to evacuate as soon as possible.

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
Houston/Galveston/Beaumont/Lake Charles Wx Watches/Warnings
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana
Hi Res Houston Flood Zone Map Slow load, great detail

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)

KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
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
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
KPLC Lake Charles Evac Routes, news
KFDM Beaumont/Port Arthur News, evac info
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 III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[Diddle E. Squat]

This might help you estimate the winds in an area:

http://www.skeetobiteweather.com/picservice.asp?t=t&m=18

[texianyankee]

I have not seen any reputable reports that the storm will touch GA.
However, the cost of the storm will.

[rangerwife]

Benning is in SW GA on the border w/Alabama. Approx hour and half to 2 hrs SW of Atlanta.

[abb]

It is $o*d&mmed criminal that the Lake Charles media wasn't on top of this since 4am this morning....

[OB1kNOb]

I've not been able to get it to update, so I guess they just posted it for a one time snapshot.

[oceanview]

how is the Pentagon supposed to get gas to people along the side of the road?

here we go again.

[metmom]

Unfortunately, you're right. The worst part of the storm is on the right side of the driection it's going in. In other words, If it's heading due north, the worst side is on the east. You always want the eye to pass to the east of you if you have to get hit so you are on the west side.

[bwteim]

Katritauterus

[mzbzybee]

Thank you.

[BurbankKarl]

the other problem is all the Bubbas drive SUVs....there is your gas shortage right there.

[BurbankKarl]

the other problem is all the Bubbas drive SUVs....there is your gas shortage right there.

[Rob_DSM]

I was using Google Earth to find the elevation of their house (5 to 10 ft). Obviously, they would be flooded if it made landfall anywhere near there.

I guess I was just mainly curious as to how the surge decreases with increasing distance from the eye. With that information, combined with the elevation data, you could determine the potential flooding as you say. Thanks.

[mewzilla]

I tell you -- some days I think people can't get out of their own way without the government.

Sigh. My ancestors are spinning.

[metmom]

If they KNEW, they'd be out of a job.

[ElisabethInCincy]

Ive contracted "kataritacantcleanmyhouse"

[RDTF]

That's just what I was thinkin!

[jeffers]

Katritas?

I'd invoke RowVeeWade on that one.

[bwteim]

mzbzybee, I meant Benning being further east of storm's land fall.
I had fixed Benning as west Ga and didn't let go...

[WoodstockCat]

midway up the state..just outside Columbus, GA.

[LA Woman3]

www.wwltv.com
Voluntary evacuation now in effect for Lafayette Parish and a mandatory evacuation is in place for Vermillion Parish.

Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rousselle announced this morning that anyone between Homeplace and Venice and the East Bank that may be trying to salvage properties damaged in Katrina should evacuate the area by 6pm tonight.