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

[Arizona Carolyn]

For about a month now there's been swarms of quakes from Salton Sea to Nevada. California is way overdue for a large earthquake -- last major quake was Northridge, January 16, 1994 and the SF Quake in October 1989. There is some wierd stuff going on with the Techtonic (sp)plates that has concern from Washington State to Southern California.

I told my husband today with the fuel issues all we needed right now is a major earthquake in Northern or Southern California.

[Brad’s Gramma]

STOP THAT!



Sheesh. I don't wanna live on an island!

[NautiNurse]

Yes, you are.

[Conservative4Ever]

I live in Beaumont...and we did have quite a ride for both the Big Bear and later the Landers. Two in one day was waaaay more than I needed. I watched my house be twisted like a giant with a shoe box. Stuff flew everywhere. What was really fun was following a crack in the ground go across ten acres of property...across the paved road and into an empty field across the street. The crack was about 1" wide.

[SE Mom]

Uh-oh.

[Dog Gone]

You in this?

Yes, but nearly to the extent it looked like last night. When I went to bed last night I was resigned to total devastation of the house. Now it looks like I'm on the clean side of the storm with winds around 70 mph, maybe even less. I'll have damage, but it shouldn't be major unless one of those freak twisters hits me.

Now the bullseye is a couple of small farming towns a little bit inland, but it's going hit Beaumont and Lake Charles a lot harder than they were expecting all week.

Having said that, nobody knows for sure. The current probability for a direct strike on Houston is still 24%.

[ncpatriot]

As I watch this mile-long traffic jam, I am getting the very same feeling that I got watching those poor people go into the Dome. I felt that Sunday that they were walking into a tomb.

I pray that these motorists can get off the roads before the hurricane hits.

[Brad’s Gramma]

And you too....STOP THAT!

I'm NOT an islandkindagal! ;)

[Dog]

The one Billie posted years ago...I'm more handsome now.

[Petronski]

Let's be more specific. Do not use propane indoors.

It produces CO, it can tip and cause fires, and unburned propane is heavier than air, which can pool in basements and go boom. (Natural gas is lighter than air...)

[Bahbah]

However, the very unfortunate myth that there is a specific, precise windspeed that must be associated with a given pressure has taken hold.

Well, it was just summarily dislodged from my not very scientific brain for good.

[fanfan]

That's right, so I do the math.

:-)

[RebaJ]

I believe there is a pressure trough coming towards it. If the trough has enough strenght it is supposed to push Rita north.

[Dog]

OK Steve earn your pay...what does that mean in ENGLISH.

[WoodstockCat]

Nagin didn't hire enough dutch boys after Katrina...

[Spktyr]

Nope, they're not. We know FEMA is busy. We also know that FEMA is only the clean-up squad.

Texans also know that God helps those that help themselves. Texans *hate* the idea of just sitting around waiting for the cavalry.

[sheikdetailfeather]

hehehehe! I saw another expert on MSNBC who discounted global warming too. Bastardi just told Hannity that Texans who don't evacuate should plan to be out of power for 7-10 days. I also heard President Bush is coming to Texas tomorrow.

[steveegg]

Fresh NOAA flight Vortex Data Message (take 2 for proper formatting) - Pressure down 2 mb to 911 mb -

000
URNT12 KNHC 222107Z
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 22/2043Z
B. 25 DEG 50 MIN N
   89 DEG 25 MIN W
C. 700 MB 2320 M
D. NA
E. NA
F. 124 DEG 123 KT
G. 033 DEG 12 NM
H. 911 MB
I. 12 C/ 3054 M
J. 19 C/ 3064 M
K. 16 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C015-40
N. 12345/7
O. 1/1 NM
P. NOAA3 1818A RITA OB 46
   MAX FL WIND 133 KT NW QUAD 1910Z
   EXCELLENT RADAR PRESENTATION
   OUTER EYEWALL CONTRACTING

[eastforker]

YES YOU CAN USE A CAMPING STOVE FUELD BY PROPANE INSIDE, GAS RANGES ARE USED EVERYDAY INSIDE HOMES, QUIT BEING STUCK ON STUPID.