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

[Spktyr]

My *cat* could run for that spot.

[steveegg]

I'll take Door #1 for two reasons; the other is despite getting on-and-off rain all day up here in the land of cheese and beer, we're still WAY behind, and that looks like it will bring some my way.

[LA Woman3]

We are already getting outer bands...and I'm South of Baton Rouge.

[backhoe]

One word: Glock.

I know a lot of people swear by them, but I'm old-fashioned- M1911, Browning Hi-Power, or Walther PPK. But for serious social occasions, my tagline is the truth.

[kjam22]

Howlin... people burned propane for heat and cooking in their homes for years and years without a CO detector. You do agree with that don't you?

[Howlin]

just crack the window a bit and no problem

Stupid.

[RDTF]

Thanks for that - the visual pic helps

[kjam22]

I never have.

Then you've never seen a 72 LTD going down the road :)

[NautiNurse]

We should be able to somehow tie in Chuckie Schumer's comment to Judge Roberts into this scenario. Schumer described his knowledge of Roberts to an iceberg. We only know 10% about you. The other 90% we don't know is what could sink a ship...

[Howlin]

Are you ready, girl friend?

[Howlin]

I agree it's a stupid thing to do.

[MamaB]

We had gas heaters for years when I was a kid. We never ever had a problem with them.

[hummingbird]

DITTO...people like your son, bunches, are the heroes! You must be really proud of him. Thank him for me, too!

[numberonepal]

Conditions at 42001 as of
(3:50 pm CDT)
2050 GMT on 09/22/2005:

Wind Direction (WDIR):	NNW ( 340 deg true )
Wind Speed (WSPD):	73.8 kts
Wind Gust (GST):	95.2 kts
Wave Height (WVHT):	38.1 ft
Dominant Wave Period (DPD):	13 sec
Average Period (APD):	9.8 sec
Mean Wave Direction (MWDIR):	NE ( 56 deg true )
Atmospheric Pressure (PRES):	28.04 in
Pressure Tendency (PTDY):	-0.96 in ( Falling Rapidly )
Air Temperature (ATMP):	79.2 °F
Water Temperature (WTMP):	82.4 °F
Dew Point (DEWP):	79.2 °F
Heat Index (HEAT):	84.4 °F

 

Continuous Winds

TIME (CDT)	WDIR	WSPD
3:50 pm	NNW ( 339 deg )	74.0 kts
3:40 pm	NNW ( 345 deg )	75.0 kts
3:30 pm	NNW ( 345 deg )	78.1 kts
3:20 pm	NNW ( 344 deg )	79.1 kts
3:10 pm	NNW ( 342 deg )	77.1 kts
3:00 pm	NNW ( 343 deg )	77.1 kts

[eastforker]

The old coleman stoves used what I call white gas, a liquid you pour in the tank and then presure it up and then burn the fumes, those were highly toxic and produced large volumes of CO. The propane stoves are of little or no risk, yet, coleman still prints the disclaimer and I understand why. Sort of like saying do not put pets in clothes dryer after bath.

[markman46]

cause the tanks are outside the house???

[kjam22]

Howlin... Propane is the primary source for heat in rural homes in Oklahoma. It has been for 100 years. They all have the big vertical propane tank sitting outside... and they burn it just like a home in the city burns natural gas. There is no difference.

In reality it becomes a safety issue when some guy brings in his propane cooker with the 5 gallon tank on it, and a hand tight fitting that leaks. That's the bottom line.

[RDTF]

You are so very right. Folks just think about people that die in their garages. They aren't airtight

[DallasMike]

Buoy 42001 will soon sustain a direct hit from Hurricane Rita. The interesting thing is what the following graphs show. Click on the graphs for full-sized images. Look how quickly the pressure dropped and how quickly the wind picked up. Fascinating.

 

 

[kjam22]

People that die in garages are dying from car exhaust which is a different thing that the propane issue.