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

[Howlin]

I'm sure he's checking into his hotel!

Anderson Cooper is probably somewhere trying to get his butt unpuckered.

[AliVeritas]

I thought the chainsaw was for the looters? sarc off.

[cgk]

LOL!

[Howlin]

If Christine Amanpour shows up, it's gonna be a war zone.

[BurbankKarl]

I am sure he will pop up tomorrow....it will be FICTION FRIDAY II -- Fox just cancelled A Current Affair and gave Geraldo his own show for their affiliates....You will get to see him every night.

[VirginiaMom]

You know, I can almost stomach Shep when compared to Anderson Cooper. I just cannot stand Anderson Cooper. I actually DETEST Anderson Cooper....lol!

[Spktyr]

Contraflow will clear out the freeways, and 10 gallons of gas will get any car started back up and on its way (if the fuel pump didn't burn out).

10 gallons of gas will get even my old behemoth Jeep 120-140 miles on a relatively clear freeway (which is what TXCN is showing as starting to happen).

[cowdog77]

Thank you, that was helpful....especially since my daughter is in Giddings and it's already horrible traffic on 290 west. We're in Kerrville and it's bad here too. I appreciate the post, thanks!

[Carolinamom]

Whew! And you called ME mean. LOL

[bwteim]

LOL. Willie's outa there like a bullet (train)

[WxMan2000]

Some independent meteorologists are saying that Rita is undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle and that she'll strengthen somewhat...

Count me as one of them. IR and water vapor imagery show increasing organization of the storm, and last recon showed that the pressure rises observed earlier have stopped. I suspect the inner wall is about to collapse, allowing the outer eyewall to take over. Once that happens, the gradient will tighten and the wind field will adjust, resulting in a ramping up of the winds.

[cgk]

Yep! :) This morning when I checked in, I saw people arguing about whether or not it would hit NOLA instead of Houston - I take it that's over?

[NautiNurse]

Where is Steve Whoooooa Harrigan for the festivities?

[seeker41]

It was probably pretty nice back then, my folks stayed there once in the 60's or 70's-my memory is not so clear.

[Broker]

Steve's face is still peeling from his last whipping.

[freeperfromnj]

With Shep and Rita in Galveston, they're now doomed

That means Anderson Cooper can't be far behind. It's all about them, don't you know?

[Sally'sConcerns]

sustained winds of 150 so is now a Cat 4.
do expect it to strengthen. Still KTRK

[RDTF]

I don't know, but I could watch Rob Marciano all day (and nite (wink:)

[BurbankKarl]

Anderson Cooper in his Gloria Vanderbilt jeans...

[AliVeritas]

That's why MS and AL didn't get the attention it deserved immediately after Katrina... if you were a tourist who arrived today you would think that NO was the direct hit during Katrina.