This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
Locked on 09/22/2005 5:50:00 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1489655/posts |
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
Hear on Channel 2 that the traffic on I-45 southbound, which will accommodate northbound traffic, will be opened at 10:00 a.m. to Buffalo, TX, which is a good long distance. After that is accomplished then they will do 290, when that is accomplished then they will do I-10. Must be difficult to have to close all oncoming ramps, especially when there is no access road for incoming traffic.
This indeed did happen last year the day before Charlie when the Tampa area was in its sights. The traffice was backed up from St. Pete through north Tampa all day and into the evening. In the middle of the night things calmed down considerably, and a guest we had from Virginia had a clear sail going home at 1:00 am.
Things in your area may be different, though, since it appears a lot more people are evacuating. Just trying to give you a word of encouragement :)
According to Fox, the zone will be moving slightly more to the east. They are mentioning Lake Charles now.
That appears to have happened in Mobile Bay during Katrina.
Ed Rappaport on F&F STRONGLY hinting that the areas east of Houston should start getting ready to go.
Fox had Houston family on phone that left at midnight and even then, traffic at 20 mph.
I just told my hubby for the 500th time in the last 10 years "Don't ever move me to Houston!!" Too many people, traffic etc. even on a good day.
Based on past hurricanes and how they interact with coastal topography, 38 ft sounds to me a lot more reasonable than 50 ft for the maximum potential surge in Galveston Bay. Of course, I'm just an amateur. If TWC said 50 ft with authority, then I'd go forward with that assumption.
Maybe Lake Charles has a levee that the Govt can detonate as the storm goes through. I guess W is intentionally driving this storm north.
Thanks for the ping, and thanks for keeping the thread updated. You get honorary MSF Award: (Max Mayfield, Bob Sheets, Neal Frank).
You know what else those three Hurrican Center Directors have in common, BTW?
Some Freepers started evacuating yesterday morning. There has been a steady stream of them reporting out ever since. We have a whole lot of FReepers in this storm's path.
Hubby filled up the gas tanks in two of his boats (150 gallons each) just prior to Katrina. I have mixed emotions about the practice. One, I think we contributed to the increased demand and subsequent rise in prices. Yet on the other hand, it is reassuring to have the gas available.
I heard that the Navy ships left port yesterday from NO.
PS. And 38 ft is rather dreadful enough.....
They all live(d) in Miami?
I am beginning to see a vision of miles of gridlocked cars sitting on the freeways getting hit with 215 mph gusts.This may be the worst case scenario, that Houston ran out of gas in the last day before the storm hits thus preventing many from leaving.
Texas officials may have dropped the ball in getting the contraflow started, I used to live in Houston and its got a good freeway system but not when there is heavy rains. Houston is only 15 feet above sea level so there will be major flooding on the streets and runoff ditches.
Gas is not available now getting out of town, it will even be more scarce afterwards.
traffic out of Houston moving at FOUR mph
Mazey & Alton ping!
This looks more North than the others to you?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.