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

[NautiNurse]

As the storm approaches landfall in the NW corner of the GOM, land will be interacting with the storm on two sides. This would normally inhibit the storm a bit. However, the storm surge will be extreme, regardless of any last minute wind speed decline. The churned up water ahead of the storm has to go somewhere.

[ARCADIA]

He is new to the Houston area and doesn't know any backroads.

The back roads usually lock up along with the highways; the infrastructure is just not designed to evacuate an entire city (or a number of them) within 72 hours.

[bwteim]

It sure does.

[AliVeritas]

Aggie you have all my prayers. I will send as many knee-mails as emails. God Bless and keep you and your family.
Get your kids to pray...

[sarasota]

The only folks who don't get out of the way are either thrill seekers or those who laugh in the face of death.

[janetjanet998]

yes if it keeps up...the keyword is IF

[Trust but Verify]

Wonderful advice. You would be great to have around in a crisis.

[ARCADIA]

I think Trump wants to run for POTUS. Seriously.

Well, why not; can he be any worse then Hillary & Kerry?

[IamConservative]

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?

According to the LA politicians one cannot possibly do this without a bathroom and air conditioning. Proof positive that the welfare state has sapped the will of these people. The good folks of Texas on the hand have will, therefore there is a way.

[sweet_diane]

Is plywood available to you instead of taping the windows? Offers way more protection.

Best of luck to you!

[Oberon]

I don't know about anyone else, but this storm inspires me to bad parody:

Aaaahhh...

Lovely Rita hurricane
Lovely Rita hurricane

Lovely Rita hurricane
Look at the Gulf between us
Come to my aid and kindly fade away
Listen to the frightened shrimpers
Making little frightened whimpers
Looking for a harbor where they can be saved
Your whitecaps are running higher
See the fear that you inspire
You were once a warm little tropical storm

Lovely Rita hurricane
May I inquire discreetly (Lovely Rita)
Would you refrain from dumping rain on me? (Lovely Rita, storm, ah)
Rita!

Finally got my windows boarded
Gasoline and water hoarded
Thought I maybe could be crazy and stay
Now I wait and watch the weather
The neighborhood has pulled together
Waiting and watching to see what we'll do

Oh, lovely Rita hurricane
I could so do without you
The mudflats stink and make me think of you (Lovely Rita hurricane)
Lovely Rita hurricane, Rita hurricane (Lovely Rita hurricane)
Oh Lovely Rita hurry hurricane (Lovely Rita hurricane)
Ah da, ah da (Lovely Rita hurricane)

[AliVeritas]

Do we have a water temp and weather pressure and front chart somewhere?

[john316]

latest wind profiling indicates 130 mph winds sustained in Baytown, TX. It is pucker time.

[reformedliberal]

I waited thru the commercial for Trump to educate O'R about the market, re: gas prices. Bill had been bloviating about asking experts who was setting gas prices and he refused to accept that the answer was "the market". After yet another segment, he finally put that question to Trump, who punted and ranted on the Saudis.

It was very disappointing. Trump was all about Trump having all the answers and O'R refuses to understand economics. Probably one of the all time worst Factors.

I am an old lady and cannot believe how far the level of economic education has fallen in the world. Almost everyone, everywhere, seems determined to find an individual or a corporation or an industry at which to point a finger and they always seem to miss the political mistakes that exacerbate existing supply/demand problems. Unless, of course, they can blame a Republican.

[bwteim]

Are you talking about the 'homeless' guys living on the beach? I caught that early this morning.
If that is same idiot, did you have that feeling the Reporterette was trying to push the 'Oh, my G*d, you mean you haven't heard, what does Big Daddy need to do' envelope, a little, ala NOLA?

[twigs]

Not to mention his inherent conflict of interest. I'm sure he would probably love to get in on those building contracts in this ravaged area. I've never been able to stand his ego and now that I read he was bashing the president last night on BOR, I dislike him all the more! Totally untrustworthy character. Personally and professionally.

[Fawn]

INFO PLEASE:

Does anyone know if...in SOuth FLorida.....whether I95 or the Turnpike were ever turned into NORTHBOUND LANES ONLY for evacuation? Also---the keys main road.....was it ever STRICKLY NORTHBOUND Lanes?

[sweet_diane]

"Turn down the temperature on your frig,"

Turn down the temp of the A/C as well. Helps to have that extra cool in the event you loose power.

[Orange1998]

All day yesterday the Hwy are jammed packed. With all the people running out of gas or overheating the hwy may never move enough to get out of harms way. Most I talked too decided to stay put when they find no place to stay. We now know three days prior to the storm is not enough time to evacuate from Houston. I am prepared as much as possible. Good Luck Xenalyte

[mathluv]

BOR refuses to understand anything that he does not agree with. If he had to go with the 'market' idea, he coulld not bash W or the oil companies; therefore, the 'market' idea has to go.