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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
To a degree, yes, but what it means more is that there will be no unusually sharp turn taking the storm into central LA; a hit that would put Galveston on the right side of the storm is very unlikely, however.
Beaumont Police Scanner now up on Hurricane net...
/www.weatherserver.net/hurricanecenter/
That's why I threw the WNW in there. There's a new Vortex report up. Will have it here shortly.
Prayers for a swift and safe journey, gab1279. Be sure to let us know when you've reached Shreveport.
My hubby was born in Port Arthur! You and yours are in our prayers! Please check in when you can!
You will be in my thoughts and prayers
Not a helicopter expert, but I understand there's a lot of static electricity from the rotors. Don't think I want to use a gas hose dangling down from a helicopter.
Here we go...
Gasoline riot in Beaumont, police responding...
Is Beaumont itself vulnerable to surge? I know there's a deepwater ship channel leading there but it's really far inland. I can't find a surge map for Jefferson County.
Riot at the Fina Station. Wow.
Turn on Fox - talking about Galvston 1900
Oh crap, I was stupid enough to start listening to a live scanner feed from Beaumont, TX. Call just came in that there's a riot at a Union gas station. And already the airport there is becoming backlogged with medically needy evacuees. But no more flights. Red Cross people are already gone. The system is breaking down. Firefighters haven't eaten all day. Tension is rising in the voices.
I grabbed it; I'm trying to get anybody I see for my list.
Thanks.
Long night ahead...
Just started reading "Isaac's Storm"...
000 URNT12 KNHC 222338 VORTEX DATA MESSAGE A. 22/23:28:50Z B. 26 deg 01 min N 089 deg 49 min W C. 700 mb 2346 m D. NA kt E. NA deg nm F. 132 deg 125 kt G. 047 deg 024 nm H. 913 mb I. 11 C/ 3052 m J. 18 C/ 3050 m K. 15 C/ NA L. OPEN NE-SE M. CO16/35 N. 12345/ 7 O. 0.02 / 1 nm P. AF306 WX18A RITA01 OB 16 MAX FL WIND 125 KT NE QUAD 23:21:20 Z OUTER EYEWALL SMALL OPENING W
Other significant changes -
- Movement 3 minutes north, 10 minutes west (more of a westward jog than previously)
- Both inner (NE-to-SE) and outer (small W) now open (previously, only the inner was open to the east
- Concentric eyes 16 nm and 35 nm wide (was 14 nm and 35 nm last time through)
Do a loop, like Jeanne or Ivan?
I understand just personal preferance thats all.
Run for your lives, Port Arthur! Jungle Jim Cantore's coming, and he's bringing company.
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