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

[Blogger]

What is the one in Orange on the map I posted?

[padfoot_lover]

They said they went through Allison and their house was flooded, so they did not want to take chances on this one......

Yes, if they flooded during Allison they should leave, that's what local authorities said yesterday.

[Blogger]

Understand, but this is one huge storm.

[angelsonmyside]

Flyer I was looking for your doggie cam to ck in at times and make sure your feet are still planted. I just found out that my niece and her husband are staying thru it too. They are in the Orchard Lake sub division I think.

It took my brother 4 hours to get my mom to Hobby yesterday form Kirkwood and 59. He and his wife are leaving today.

Prayers are still with all of you, be safe.

[Strategerist]

They're actually a bit behind the curve, it seems.

The best models are now showing landfall a hair east of Galveston Bay, to the North of Galveston.

[Sooner Gal]

Good luck, Xena

[janetjanet998]

HERE notice most are about 30 miles ne of houston but a few west still..also notice how most stall and then loop it back south after landfall

[Rob_DSM]

Haven't you ever tried this before? I have. Hehe.

If you're in an auto transmission, when you turn the ignition back one step while you're still moving in gear, it just turns off the engine. The engine is still turning, but no power is being made. I don't recall how that effects the steering and brakes, but the steering would not lock up (maybe harder to turn though). I don't think the steering wheel will lock unless you are in Park.

When you're done fooling around, just turn the ignition back to ON, and it continues running like normal.

Don't try this one at home kids. LOL! It's probably a better idea to just put it in Neutral instead of turning it off.

[freeperfromnj]

They just moved down there from NJ a couple of years ago. I couldn't get in touch with them last night so I was just curious. Thanks for the info.

[JFC]

I bet they are on the roads.... Let not your heart be troubled..... as Hannity says. That verse gets me through lots of worrisome times.

[onyx]

Sounds GOOD to me too. Thanks for replying. Peace be with you and my prayers.

[RDTF]

Check this out - This NASA link provides a Powerpoint presentation of the Impact of a Category 4 Storm on the Galveston Study Area!

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=18144

[uncbob]

I'm not being insensitive...I'm being a realist. This storm is not going to go away...it is going to hit someone on the Gulf coast. Looking at the big picture, it would be better if it hit a city that is already evac'd, as opposed to a metropolis.

That is my thoughts also

[NautiNurse]

The eye is contracting. Could be the start of an ERC (eyewall replacement cycle).

[MamaB]

Do you know what happened to KHOU? I could not get it so I am watching channel 2.

[truthandlife]

I am not getting out. I prayed about it last night and really have a peace about staying. I have 4 small kids and 1 on the way. My main concern is for them and was going to leave for San Antonio at 4 a.m. this morning. The only concern I had last night was the traffic. People are running out of gas and cannot find it anywhere. It will be over 100 degrees today and there are going to be a lot of cars overheat. I think this would be worse for my family.

Traffic has been a nightmare to say the least. My brother turned around after going 10 miles in 2 1/2 hours. After seeing the model go to the east more, NW Harris County will be out of the worst of it. The scariest thing was being in the dirty side of the hurricane and that was the forecast last night. Now it looks like it will go to the east. The weather forecaster said we could expect 70 mph sustained winds and a lot of rain. My house will be able to handle this. I went through Alicia and we had 55-65 mph winds in my part of town.

I am praying protection over my children.

[kimmie7]

I have family in Houston and the surrounding area -- prayers for them, freeper friends, and everyone else.

I'll be fasting and praying this evening for the safety of our citizens.

[conservative in nyc]

NOLA is a heck of a long way from the TX/LA border.

About 230 miles. And 95 miles away from downtown Houston.

[kassie]

Thank you so much for those prayers!!

[Strategerist]

Oh the eyewall replacement started hours ago.

The sign of it is the outer ring of convection visible on IR and even on visible, with somewhat of a gap between it and the original eyewall.