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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
Are you under the impression that the rest of us haven't?
"Beyond the issue of the actual landfall point -- for the past 2 days, the global models have been forecasting the re-development/intensification of the high pressure ridge over the central U.S. -- and then expands it towards the Gulf coast. What this means, is that after Rita moves inland Saturday morning, it will gradually slow down, then stall out over west central Louisiana - and then is forecast to drift SOUTHWESTWARD towards Houston by Monday. This type of motion would lead to extreme rainfall totals across much of Louisiana and the east-southeast areas of Texas following landfall. Tremendous, life threatening flooding could result from portions of Louisiana southwestward to the Houston area. Storm rainfall totals could easily exceed 20" in some locations."
Been nice knowing you ....
LOL
Add a prenant or pmsing woman to the scenario...
Now, that would be a nightmare. Back window broke of our station wagon in Corpus when I was 7-8 months pregnant -and grammie and gramp in the back seat with the other baby in a car seat on a 115 in the shade day and we had to drive back to Houston.
My hubby is a saint : )
maybe Frank is an outdoorsy guy that lives in a tent
I have over 55 years exposure.
Back off NautiNurse. She and Howlin, jeffers, janet and dozens of others have put their time and effort into making sure we have up to date hurricane information. They save lives (for those willing to listen).
Contribute constructively or go find a DU forum to play in.
Rita appears to be intensifying...EXTREMELY impressive satellite images again.
I can still go. I can get to the river just this side of Eagle Lake driving section roads 80% of the way. No one but farmers or duck hunters could find their way on those roads.
looking at the pic always shown on FOX, of the long pier sticking out into rhe ocean in Galveston...where is that camera located..It's a live shot..but looks like a fixed location..is that from a high rise on the water? is so..good gawd?
Are you under the impression that the rest of us haven't?
Over 40 years! Dang, Frank - go in the house once in a while! :o)
T_w_F, how many years have you been exposed to weather?
one of these?
http://www.galveston.com/webcams/
The windspeeds in a Category 5 Hurricane are comparable to the windspeeds in an F3 (Severe) Tornado.
An F3 Tornado has wind speeds from 158 - 206 MPH.
In a "Severe" tornado, there is severe damage including roofs and walls
torn off well-constructed houses, trains overturned, most trees in forests
uprooted, heavy cars lifted off the ground and tossed around, and weak
pavement blown off roads!
At sustained wind speeds of 165 MPH, Hurricane Rita is basically a 100-mile
wide F3 Tornado. [Letter on Hugh Hewitt's website from a listener]
The doggone storm is AGAIN moving significantly to the east/north of the REVISED NHC track - the new track is already being overcome by events - looks to me like a solid hit on mid-Lousiana cost is in the offing, unless the trend changes.
LOL! That is what my husband heard a bunch of insurance people saying last night in a hotel.
I think we have the beginnings of a fan club here. Somehow, after studying her ... pressure gradients, it is so much clearer than looking at a weather map.
000 URNT12 KNHC 221825Z VORTEX DATA MESSAGE A. 22/1745Z B. 25 DEG 34 MIN N 89 DEG 01 MIN W C. 700 MB 2333 M D. NA E. NA F. 300 DEG 120 KT G. 200 DEG 08 NM H. 914 MB I. 12 C/ 3050 M J. 21 C/ 3056 M K. 16 C/ NA L. OPEN SE M. C015-50 N. 12345/7 O. 1/1 NM P. NOAA3 1818A RITA OB 29 MAX FL WIND 125 KT NE QUAD 1754Z
Other notable changes -
- Movement 8 minutes north, 11 minutes west
- Inner eyewall diameter down 3 nm to 15 nm, while the outer eyewall diameter up 2 nm to 50 nm (eyewall replacement cycle seems to be continuing).
Tell me what part of Are you the Sultan of Oompompamaumau? saves lives. Are you threatening me?
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