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

[ErnBatavia]

I think our South Texas FReepers can start standing down, cause this thing wants to go north.

The Weather Channel had their beachfront "danger boy" saying that Corpus is probably now in the clear and that Houstonians should seriously consider heading south now.

[SeaBiscuit]

"Everybody is guessing at this point.'

Yep, including the experts. I heard an Hurricane expert on the WC say that predicting the direction of a Hurricane is like setting a spinning top on a table and trying to determine exactly where it will end up.. very difficult, if not impossible.

[proud American in Canada]

SHe'd have to go east-southeast to get to the airport, not a sure bet at all.

Okay, SG, I don't know the area so I guess my previous advice is off the mark, but my prayers are still with you.

From the looks of things this morning, it almost sounds like Katrina will pale in comparison.

[jveritas]

Well it is Foxnews the ultimate tabloid network except for two or three shows. Can you imagine their utter disappointment if the hurricane will go further South toward the US-Mexican borders?

By the way, are we absolutely sure where the hurricane is going to make a landfall? Are we sure that it will not go further south?

[Heatseeker]

I-45 being converted to contraflow now, then they will do 290, then I-10. Per news conference.

[CJ Wolf]

You situation sounds familar, A friend of mine lost her brother in NO. He wouldn't leave, his wife left. They found him last wed, his body was in his house, drowned. Get him to go, tell him you need him to help you get out of town and then once your safe he can come back.

[silentknight]

NHC makes hurricane forecasts all the time - and da$# good ones!

[Warren_Piece]

If anything, it's turned further north of previous projections - so my uneducated guess is that the chances of this going to Mexico are nil.

[ekwd]

Katrina did MAJOR damage 60 miles inland in Mississippi.

[Jalapeno]

There is still 48 hours left before the storm hits...plenty of time to get out. If you are evacuating even at an average of 10 miles an hour you will easily get to your safe spot, unless its Winnepeg.

I-45 is going all lanes North this hour.

[texianyankee]

"By the way, are we absolutely sure where the hurricane is going to make a landfall? Are we sure that it will not go further south?"

"No," to both of your questions. No one can predict with certainty. But there are experts who can guess.

[spycatcher]

The Weather Channel had their beachfront "danger boy" saying that Corpus is probably now in the clear and that Houstonians should seriously consider heading south now.

Heading south now may help people get out while avoiding the majority of traffic heading north. Hopefully there will be places to stay down there.

[jveritas]

Is this confirmed that it is heading North and if so where is it going to make landfall?

[Trust but Verify]

I agree. It is looking more and more like it will go between Galveston and the Sabine River.

[IamConservative]

I think if I was anywhere between Freeport and the TX/LA border and less than 100 miles inland, I would be worryin' like I just swallowed a peach pit.

[ErnBatavia]

Dang, Rita is as big as Texas!

But since she moved to MSNBC we don't have to see as much of her...

[ekwd]

YES

[numberonepal]

By the way, are we absolutely sure where the hurricane is going to make a landfall?
No.
Are we sure that it will not go further south?
Mostly.

[angcat]

Donald Trump has a track record as a failure when it comes to women and marriage, but he is qualified to be President and rebuild New Orleans. What a piece of garbage trash he is. I despise the pig.

[mathluv]

I had heard earlier that they had not done it because of emergency vehicles needing the freedom of movement. Tom Delay was just on Fox saying it will be done with 45, then 10, then 290.