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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
OMG, Rita is there now!
They are arguing about this over on one of the weather forums. There is a patch of hot water to cross if Rita turns more northward, and then there is the eyewall replacement cycle.
The problem is that the storm surge, according to some of them, will be that of a cat5, no matter what...
But, they love to argue. (even more than some of the Freepers!)
The official discussion is that she'll continue to weaken, but still make landfall as at least a Category 3. Some independent meteorologists are saying that Rita is undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle and that she'll strengthen somewhat (it wouldn't take much from 150 mph to make it back to 5).
Now, for the bad news; storm surges are still expected to be higher than the strength at landfall would suggest, and almost all the models have her stalling between northeast Texas, Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and northwest Louisiana.
Whorealdo can't be far behind him....lol! The dynamic duo of melodrama.
I saw a couple riding bikes and using kayak's as their gear trailers behind their bikes leaving New Orleans during Katrina. They had the kayaks on some little bike wheel conflagaration of a makeshift trailer that hooked to the bike seat post and were just screaming down the road vs sitting in traffic.
Well thought out evac option if ya wait till the roads are jammed IMO....
Hurricane?
Where?
Where's Geraldo?
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! I want him in the French Quarter!
OH, good GOD please keep Whoraldo away from here-we have enough drama going on without him!!!!!
Listening here too.
It is looking like a borderline TX/LA event more and more per Janice Dean on Fox. She said to pay close attention to each update.
With Shep and Rita in Galveston, they're now doomed, (though it remains to be seen if they are domed :-)
jeez...scary these people have ratings they do
I stayed there many years ago. Saw it again last year when I was there.
ping to 1610
can anyone find a pic of these folks in TX that are out of gas? Seems they'll have to start towing the ones in the front to a working gas station? A can of gas won't do squat.
I guess I am reading that report wrong. Or I've been exposed to too much children's programming. Doesn't this statement contradict itself?
http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/omd/ops/weather/plots/storm_18.gif
GDFL now back at galveston
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