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

[Twinkie]

ELECTROLYTES. . also some potassium and stuff like that.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I-10 contraflow now operating to Seguin, TX. TXDOT just decided that the Hwy 290 contraflow plan they were earlier trying to implement will not take place now, need to keep it open for inbound emergency supplies. TXDOT is just now figuring this out? Perhaps I was too hasty in defending the state's preparedness. Not sure why they couldn't use the parallel Hempstead Highway for inbound traffic to at least Hwy 6 so as to allow contraflow to at least the split at Hempstead.

[SE Mom]

What is Bastardi saying?

[Petronski]

Propane indoors is very dangerous.

Propane is heavier than air. Any unburned propane will eventually "pool" in low places. Ultimately, there could be a very big BOOM.

[Quilla]

CNN's Jack Cafferty Is Nothing But DU On Cable

[Spktyr]

In an evacuation, if its the last minute (or after a disaster like a terrorist bomb or earthquake) you might care, because crawling over and through debris with your truck is, surprisingly, a lot like offroading.

[twigs]

If officials in NO had listed to Bastardi for days before Katrina struck, they would not have been able to say they were surprised. He nailed it exactly.

[JFC]

http://www.weatherserver.net/hurricanecenter/

try this link and go to NBC t.v on the rightside.. it will give you live streaming.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Did anyone watch the blow up between O'Reilly and Phil has-been last night? I guess the are going to reshow it tonight since some of it was pre-empted due to the plane emergency.

[sheikdetailfeather]

I am taping Bastardi but I am confused. It sounded like he said the storm would loop back and go south in TX. But maybe not???

[queenkathy]

Pardon me that I'm not able to go through the latest on the thread. Can someone tell me exactly what is happening with Rita? Earlier on Fox they interviewed a woman who turned to go back home because her husband/brother whatever, told her it had taken a turn. What's the general assumptions of where/when/what.

[ncpatriot]

Thanks, Petronski. You might have saved our lives.

[mathluv]

I hope the part of Kingwood they are in is outside the area liable to flood.

[Spktyr]

Some exits are blocked, some are not. Don't know the determinant.

[Petronski]

If Bastardi were named perfectly, his first name would be Dramaqueenie. He's predicted 30 of the last 3 hurricanes.

[queenkathy]

I saw it. I think O'Reilly did protest a little too much. I can't stand Donahue but just seemed a ratings game to me. Phoney

[NautiNurse]

I think he was defending you.

One missing preposition later, and we had it all figured out.

[mrsmel]

IIRC,Shep Smith is from Mississippi,he ought to be used to 100 degree weather and humidity in the 90% range. Although I've lived here all my life and I can't even get used to the humidity.

[KC Burke]

that's why those of us in the heartland carry a chain saw in our trunk

[cgk]

Excellent point!

If I had needed it - I imagine I would've eaten DIRT out in Death Valley if it got too bad. As it was - we got out right when it started to get hot again the next day. :)