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Posted on 09/22/2005 3:25:57 AM PDT by 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
That would help if Rita makes landfall in the early morn. Well, sort of...a Cat 4 is after all, a Cat 4.
they'd call it "knowing" instead of forecasting, lol
Looks W of NW to me....it is just wobbling and stairstepping, but it all averages out.
Gov Perry just said contraflow measures have just been initiated to open up the other lanes.
Arnold and jeffers, 2012!
I seriously thought the Texas folks would show us how things are done right. I'm hoping they do. They claim they have contracted fuel trucks to run along highways and get gas to those running out. Part of the plan they say. I hope so. (per presser on FoxNews now)
Calcasieu Parish: They are saying how shelters are already full from Katrina. There will be no public services, no rescues, etc., once the county closes down for the storm. They are expecting telephone service to be affected by tonight.
Hey, I can carry more people in my SUV than someone in a Honda... and this is still america... (I think) where we are able to purchase what we want.
NHC showing this storm dying to Cat 2 by landfall.
Not a walk in the park, but better than a 4 or 5.
For anybody trying to get out of Houston area, I would try the secondary roads heading west and southwest until I got out of congested area, then try secondary roads heading north
that's it
Piss off granola boy...
Not necessarily true. I've see more car pool soccer moms in suv's than bubbas these days.
Could do both. Big storm don't you know.
Because:
1) they have to allow inbound traffic for those coming from far away to evac relatives who can't drive out
2) it takes time to clear out those southbound lanes and get all the entrances blocked by patrols, the contraflow will go for 100 miles
3) it won't start until the north side of Houston, where the 4 lanes choke down to 2 lanes, same for the freeways going NW and W
4) most of this is going according to plans, we are still 36 hours out from the end of practical evacuation, it is just going to take a long time
5) if you open up the inbound lanes closer within the city, you simply move the traffic jam a few miles north, because instead of 4 lanes going to 2 and 2, you'd have 4 and 4 lanes going to 2 and 2 at the choke points
6) contracted fuel trucks are mobilizing to refuel those who run out of gas on the side of the road
Let's not get all logical, JFC!
Don't you know that SUVs are evil?
THREE OF their cars? How many do these folk own? Last I knew, you could still only drive one at a time.
That was the banner, as I was typing, on FNC.
But now I hear that DOD is assisting with gas in Texas.
Asking for the Pentagon to help is a LITTLE over the top. Sheesh.
"I seriously thought the Texas folks would show us how things are done right. I'm hoping they do. They claim they have contracted fuel trucks to run along highways and get gas to those running out. Part of the plan they say. I hope so."
And exactly how do these trucks get through the traffic jams?
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