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Posted on 09/22/2005 3:25:57 AM PDT by 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
"Furthermore, the northern 2/3 of the storm is subject to shearing force approx 15 m/s. This is above the standard threshold accepted for intensification (< 10 m/s). Therefor, at this time, I'm skeptical of any significant increase in intensity from here on out."
That shear you are referring to in the north half of the storm is as a result of Rita's own outflow. Since it's not environmentally-induced shear over the inner core, it doesn't affect the intensity of the storm. Strong shear on the outskirts of strong hurricanes as a result of strong outflow aloft superimposed on oppositely-directed inflow below is a defining characteristic of hurricanes. Shear that weakens hurricanes is caused by external factors, such as an upper-level trough, that disrupts the normal outflow pattern, and allows vertical shear to overspread the core.
Yes....
Staying here this time.
Like I said, some people are just stuck on stupid and I stand by that statement.
I'm not arguing that; I'm just saying that you should not EVER use any kind of gas without using a CO detector.
Just because they use to do it one way doesn't mean that's the way it should be done now.
Fascinating graphics - thanks!
Love to. Got dear friends that work for NASA. She is actually originally from Baton Rouge.
Love to leave Pennsyltucky, but making a living keeps us here.
That's condensation you see in cold weather. Hydrocarbon (gasoline) + oxygen -> CO2 + H2O (water) + energy to move the car.
The car exhaust has got a lot of water vapor in it. On cold days, it condenses in the tail pipe
BastardiWeenie strikes again.
Hi! I'm happy to say hubby finally arrived here at 3:45PM ~ 25 hours after leaving Galveston, with one fuel stop and a stop to eat in Lufkin.
He ended up going up to Tyler and back-tracking into Dallas on I-20 - but at least from Lufkin on the traffic moved.
This trip was really tough on his aunt, but she is a trooper and a darned tough ol' gal. I think once she gets some sleep she will be okay.
I sure appreciated having y'all here through this wait.....I tried not to stress about them too much but I knew his aunt was car sick and when the hours kept passing and they just weren't getting anywhere I was really starting to worry.
Hubby and aunt have both gone to bed and all is well in our household this afternoon!
Thank you Lord and thank you Freepers!
What terrific news!! Whew, right?
Correct, should we have a science 101 class here on FR? Looks like some need it.
Thank you LORD!!!!!
And thanks, Zacs Mom for letting us all know. I've been praying for them ever since you posted last night.
Bless your aunt...she DOES sound like a real trooper!!
That's from Accuweather's site
isn't 913 MB REALLY low for only 145 MPH?
Maybe, if not, go to http://www.thepoliticalteen.net
She should have it.
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