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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
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
Gee a SUV full of a family, their pets and all their personal belongs they can carry is bad, but a mini car with one person is OK?
Bye the way, what fuel mileage does your mini car get parked in a traffic jam?
Speechless...
good point. But look at the white wrapping around this storm!
It does look to be strengthening here...not good.
Rick Perry saying that the storm seems to be "moving" ten miles east each time they are getting an update.
Looking at the projected tracks, I wonder what the NGPI and the LBAR analysts are smoking, or perhaps they have a grudge on LA?
One lady was on the highway for 8 hours and traveled 10 miles before she turned around to go back home. She said she did not think she would have time to get evacuated.
This traffic situation could be a monumental tragedy and more traffic should start fleeing to the south.
Gov Perry says he would rather have people sitting in traffic 8 hours trying to get out instead of trying to stay in your home.
Exactly. Looks like they are doing about as well as could be expected.
not gas...
hahaha
I'm beginning to believe these ppl have no clue what a cone of probability is. Good God.
There is a link to the buoy stations at the top of the thread. Katrina took out some buoys. I imagine this storm is taking out some more of them too.
Thanks and God Bless You.
Hopefully, it'll pull an Allen and do just that.
I actually was glad it peaked two days before hitting the coast. Storms have a hard time maintaing Cat 5 intensity for more than a day at a time.
Bubbas like Algore and Arianna Huffinton-Puffington?
The NHC has cmputer models to predict storm surge. I'm not sure if they are available to the public, though, like a lot of their other info. I'd be worth checking out.
I am joining you in that prayer...in Jesus' Holy Name!
Don't you know anything.. we are rich TEXANS... and they see what happened in NOLA where cars were flooded and looted!
How would YOU put a family and pets in a compact car?
((((Types_with_Fist))))
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