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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
Note this, an F3 that is 75 MILES WIDE!!!
I grew up on the coast of NC, saw a number of hurricanes, but I think the worst was a Cat 2. I don't want to see a Cat 4 or 5. My wife is from Iowa, she knows tornados and is facinated by weather.
Can the cause of the wind shear affect the direction of the storm?
I'd say that exits are being blocked to control parking, as there isn't any flow. I wonder how the secondary routes look.
I'm still worried, though.
Our interstate highway system was originally built during the cold war as a defense measure. Given the threat of terror these days, I'd say it's time to revisit their original purpose and upgrade them. Talk about government spending. The kind that we need to do!
Speaking last year about Dennis compared to Ivan, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield said:
"the distinction between a 3 and a 4 should matter little to those in Dennis' path.
"It's a little bit like the difference between getting run over by an 18-wheeler and a freight train. Neither prospect is good," Mayfield said.
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/newsrelated/DennisPoundsGulfArea.htm
Note, that was a 3 vs a 4, here we are looking at 4 vs 5.
Sounds like you made some good time compared to a lot of people.
My son is on I-10 at about Fry Rd heading for San Antonio. He left yesterday evening from downtown Houston. Traffic is at a standstill. They are talking about opening up the Southbound I-45 to go North, but he says the radio down there is saying that they don't have the Police resources to do the same with I-10. People are breaking down & running out of gas all over and blocking lanes of the road.
He is new to the Houston area and doesn't know any backroads.
Good Question !!
Perhaps too many nowdays always in such a hurry traveling interstates, they have never bothered *finding* the MANY backroads of Texas.
truthandlife - I'll keep you and your little ones in my prayers.
Keep in touch
Sooner Gal
This may be a duplicate. If not...
Bulletin - Immediate Broadcast Requested
Hurricane Local Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles La
730 Am Cdt Thu Sep 22 2005
...catastrophic Category Five Rita Moving West-northwestward Across
The Central Gulf Of Mexico...
...hurricane And Tropical Storm Watches Are In Effect For Portions
Of The Louisiana And Texas Coast...
...areas Affected...
This Statement Applies To Jefferson And Orange Counties In
Southeast Texas...cameron...calcasieu...jefferson
Davis...acadia...vermilion...lafayette...upper And Lower Saint
Martin...iberia And Saint Mary Parishes In Southwest And South
Central Louisiana.
...watches/warning...
A Hurricane Watch Is In Effect From Port Mansfield Texas To
Intracoastal City Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect
From East Of Intracoastal City To Morgan City. A Tropical Storm
Warning Is In Effect East Of Morgan City Louisiana.
An Inland Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect For Hardin...jefferson
And Orange Counties Of Southeast Texas...and
Calcasieu...cameron...vermilion...and Jeff Davis Parishes Of
Southwest Louisiana.
...storm Information...
At 7 Am Cdt...1200z...the Eye Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 25.2 North...longitude 88.3 West Or About 490 Miles
Southeast Of Galveston Texas And 440 Miles Southeast Of Cameron
Louisiana.
Rita Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 9 Mph And This General
Motion Is Expected To Continue For The Next 24 Hours.
Reports From An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Indicate
That Maximum Sustained Winds Remain Near 175 Mph With Higher Gusts.
This Makes Rita A Potentially Catastrophic Category Five Hurricane
On The Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Fluctuations In Intensity Are
Likely During The Next 24 Hours.
Maximum Sustained Winds Are Estimated Near 170 Mph With Higher
Gusts. This Makes Rita A Potentially Catastrophic Category Five
Hurricane On The Saffir-simpson Scale. A Slow Weakening Trend Is
Forecast But Rita Is Expected To Reach The Coast Late Friday Or
Early Saturday As A Major Hurricane...at Least A Category Three.
Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 70 Miles From The
Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 185
Miles.
...precautionary/preparedness Actions...
Orange And Jefferson County...mandatory Evacuation.
Cameron Parish...evacuation For The Entire Parish.
Calcasieu Parish...an Evacuation Is Mandatory For Persons South Of
Interstate 10...and Recommended For Residents North Of The
Interstate.
Acadia Parish...voluntary Evacuation For Southern Part Of The Parish.
Iberia...voluntary Evacuation South Of Highways 90 And 14.
Jeff Davis...evacuation Of Low-lying Areas South Of I-10.
Lafayette...voluntary Evacuation Of People In Mobile Homes...
Low-lying Areas...and People With Special Medical Conditions That
Require Electricity.
St. Martin...voluntary Evacuation Of Lower St. Martin Parish And
Low-lying Areas In Upper St Martin Parish.
Vermilion Parish...mandatory Evacuation South Of Highway 14 To
Abbeville And People In All Mobile Homes Or Special Medical Needs.
...storm Surge Flood And Storm Tide Impacts...
A Significant And Deadly Storm Surge Will Be Possible Across The
Region. As Rita Advances Across The Northwest Gulf...strengthening
Onshore Winds Will Transport Gulf Waters Northward. A 20 To 25 Foot
Storm Surge Will Occur In The Vicinity Of The Hurricane
...diminishing To 10 To 15 Feet Over Coastal Acadiana. This Will
Bring Gulf Waters As Far North As Interstate 10...including The
Cities Of Lake Charles And Sulphur Louisiana...and Orange And
Beaumont Texas.
...wind Impacts...
Despite Rita Making Landfall Southwest Of The Forecast Area...much
Of The Region Will Experience Extreme Winds And Of Long Duration As
This Large System Tracks Across The Northwest Gulf And Into East
Texas. Winds Will Increase Over The Coastal Waters Tonight To Near
Tropical Storm Force...spreading Inland Along And South Of
Interstate 10 Across Southwest Louisiana And Southeast Texas Through
Friday. Winds Will Continue To Increase Moving Through Friday Night
As Rita Nears...ranging From 40 To 60 Mph...possibly Reaching
Hurricane Force Near 80 Mph Across Extreme Southeast Texas. These
Winds Will Continue Into Saturday...very Gradually Diminishing Late
As The System Makes Landfall And Moves Further North Into East
Central Texas.
With These Strong Winds And The Extended Time Of The
Winds...significant Damage Can Be Expected Across The Region.
Numerous Trees And Power Lines Will Fall...with Widespread And
Extended Power Outages. Some Structures Will Also Fail.
...rainfall...
Extreme Rainfall Will Also Accompany Rita With A Storm Total Of 10
To 15 Inches Across The Region...with Isolated Higher Amounts.
...next Update...
The Next Local Statement On Hurricane Rita Will Be Issued By 1000 Am.
Looking at a map, that means he has done 150 miles in 18 hours = 8 mph? How many people have run out of gas and food?
We'll keep them in our prayers. There are worse places than 100ft above sea level, and 75 miles inland. Expect power outages will occur, some tree damage, possible tornados.
The links at the top of the thread update automatically, I believe.
The interstates are the best roads. But they are using all kinds of roads as evacuation routes But nothing can handle this size of an evacuation. Galveston County is small in size with a quarter million people. They all evacuated but for a handful according to good reports. That dumped about 270,000 people, for the most part, onto Interstate 45 going north through Houston to get out then add on evacuations from Houston itself. The East bound roads wouldn't get you out of the hurricane winds and would only take you to the destruction wrought by Katrina. It's just a mess. By 9 am they are supposed to open both inbound and outbound I-45 through to Buffalo, Texas to help get people out of Houston and The Woodlands.
Good one! Thanks I needed that.
I think we're heading out today. Gotta tape the windows first, and do what damage prevention we can . . . but the turn she took overnight has us worried.
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