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

[dfwgator]

That's picture looks like something out of "War Games."

[MamaB]

There is going to be another briefing at 3.

[JFC]

You guys would not belive what CNN is saying.. telling Bush jokes.. that McCaferty is UNREAL... I know I flip him off but then flip over during commercials on Fox.. He is just adding to the hate of Bush on the STUPID HEADS

[Temple Owl]

I enjoy telling my grandson, 5, off-color knock knock jokes.
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Awgo
Awgo who
Awgo poop in a shoebox.
Warning: Your daughter-in-law will not like it.

Kids that age also want to know about their ancestors and how they died.

The great, great, great, great, great. great, grandfather was a gigolo.
He was shot by a jealous husband.
He told that to his kindergarten teacher.

[steveegg]

Thanks. It's the same story here, only a few years later.

[cgk]

Oh yes. The Honore clip was his "funny of the day" and that is how he closed his show.

If I could figure out how to capture video WITH sound from my TiVO I'd upload it - but I can't. I saved it to show hubby when he got home. :)

[Arizona Carolyn]

We carry a cooler in the car, too... no way you can grocery shop here without one.

[SE Mom]

Sighs...ok..so do we know what the local prediction is for Michigan today?

This is like a brain-freeze without the slurpy...

[Carolinamom]

Gov. Howard Dean, I believe, wanted special bike trails for them. We're all equal, so no "special" treatment for them. I say, instead, they have a RIGHT and obligation to take their chances and use high traffic highways sucking up our car fumes while we excersize our rights to drive cars. Everybody's got RIGHTS these days, dontcha know?

[Dog Gone]

Your gallons are somewhat larger than American gallons, though.

[tutstar]

lol

We called 'em "kickers" in my day. That was a long time ago! LOL

[Howlin]

Well, Wolf has already started keeping a list of all the things that are going wrong.

And I love the people writing emails saying "What if this was an evacuation for WMDs; what would happen then?"

Is there anybody on the face of the earth that doesn't know the answer to that one?

[John Jamieson]

Did you know that 900 millibars sucks worse than the standard home vac plugged-up?

[Blogger]

Does this mean that its eyewall has been replaced and it will now strengthen or speed up again?

[AliVeritas]

Well since China has the condoms (so much for our dominance in marketing), as well as BJ condoms...

I'm going to do a line of blue dresses......

sarc off

[freeperfromnj]

Knock out Jack McCaferty on CNN. He is fueling the fire of the Bush haters

McCafferty is a has been. He got booted from a local NYC news station as anchor a couple of years ago and CNN picked him up as the resident curmudgeon.

[cgk]

Wow - it sure does! I loved that movie!

[Republican Red]

The gas station owner who jacked up his gas prices to $5.97 was also fined by the State $5,000 per occurrence.

Next time I bet he just puts the bag on the pump.

[bonfire]

It's overcast and muggy here in Ohio. Cold front coming: ripe for tormatoes.

[John Jamieson]

That and the 85 cent dollars.