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

[SauronOfMordor]

Any small burner or heater can kill the people in the confined space if enough fresh air for (1) efficient combustion and (2) ventilation are not provided.

The main difference between indoor and outdoor use is that for indoor use they have to make sure there's a high air/fuel ratio, in order to ensure the fuel burns completely into CO2 rather than CO. But you get more heat if you leave the air/fuel mix lean, which is better for outdoor cooking (more heating per unit of fuel) provided that you don't have to worry about carbon monoxide accumulating

[SE Mom]

Godspeed- have you signed into Howlin's Check in thread?

[RDTF]

Sweetie pleeease be careful! Keep us posted.

[fishntex]

NCAR is great.

[mware]

I am kind of hoping it will remain at 9 until everyone gets out of Dodge. Then when it hit land I am hoping it loses steam real fast and speed up its forward mph.

[Eaker]

Oxygen is rarely depleted in a home. We have never run out of it in our home. If it is the fire goes out. If the oxygen is too depleted, propane or not, you will die anyway.

As I stated and it cannot be refuted millions of homes run on propane.

[Tuxedo]

The last frames of the loops I have seen indicate a westward "wobble". This baby could lose her steering forces before landfall.

[steve86]

But you get more heat if you leave the air/fuel mix lean, which is better for outdoor cooking (more heating per unit of fuel) provided that you don't have to worry about carbon monoxide accumulating

But you still have to worry about Global Warming /sarc

[Strategerist]

From the 4 pm discussion, it's a high that's expected to slide east that will allow Rita to hook more to the north. Vortex reports have been showing a WNW-to-NW movement the last several hours.

There's been quite a significant westward wobble the last 1-2 hours; between last two vortex statements movement is 288 degrees, after being 304-308 degrees most of the afternoon.

It's clearly not turning more to the N yet.

[backhoe]

PS- here is a link to a more detailed description regarding barometer adjustment:

http://www.windandweather.com/store/technical_faq?Args=

[SE Mom]

Does this put Galveston back in play?

[BurbankKarl]

let me rephrase that....10 inches guaranteed, with some parts getting up to 25 inches....

they said a high pressure is forming that will stall RITA along the East Texas/West La. area...

[SVTCobra03]

"Brother, I'll take a 10 or 15 round semi over your revolver anytime.

Semis have been pretty good since about 1911."

Not only that but you can change magazines much faster than speed loaders.

[Tuxedo]

It is 101 in San Antonio right now... I'd say that High has yet to get moving. Have to check the barometer to see if it is dropping at all.

[Robert A Cook PE]

So, the HOV lanes are ALSO kept closed, eh?

Still not reversing (even two or three) lanes in opposite side!

[bwteim]

Gab, Best of luck in your departure, stay safe and stay calm.
The sun will shine again.

http://www.panews.com/
Port Arthur News link for others.

http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.asp?brd=2287
Beaumont paper link for others

[Strategerist]

I know a lot of people don't know much about our little area, but it's real nice. Awful lot of people over here when you get right down to it, Beaumont is pretty big, the highways are unreal getting them out.

National Media always tries to focus on places they can relate to the whole country, because people have either been there or heard of there..New Orleans, Houston, or Galveston (now famous because of Isaac's Storm.)

Very few people in Florida, New York, California have heard of or been to or even know where Port Arthur or Beaumont is, unfortunately.

The networks also likely didn't send reporters there, so there may be no reporting from the landfall point. Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel is currently in the process of trying to drive from Galveston to Port Arthur, but he's stuck in traffic.

[Strategerist]

There are some slight indications that Rita could even wander soutwards back over the Gulf a bit after making landfall and going inland.

[Tuxedo]

Nope, 29.8 and rising. Hmmmm.... I am beginning to wonder about those more southern models now.

[steve86]

I witnessed a test case of oxygen depletion in a 8 X 14 room. The CO sensor did sound and occupants probably would have evacuated safely. The flame was still burning but changed color. Many people have died using an outdoor appliance (or even indoor appliance with oxygen depletion) in rooms such as bathrooms. This is why use of unvented heaters is prohibited in those rooms by universal building codes. You are making an irresponsible comment by implying oxygen depletion is not an issue. Maybe you live in an old, drafty house. Newer houses are much tighter.