Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita continues to move toward landfall along the northwest Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations continue across Texas and Louisiana coastal areas. Lake Charles LA is providing evacuations by bus for residents who have no transportation.

Traffic gridlock in the greater Houston area was compounded by gasoline stations without fuel, long lines at those stations still carrying fuel, and record breaking temperatures on the first day of autumn.

Offshore drilling platforms and rigs, as well as oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants are in the path of the storm. Wave heights recorded by buoy have exceeded 38 feet. The refineries threatened by Hurricane Rita are on higher ground than those affected by flooding from Katrina. As a result, speculation abounds regarding future prices for winter heating fuel and gasoline.

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
KPLC-TV Lake Charles KPLC Streaming
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 IV
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[CindyDawg]

I hope so. Aren't they supposed to start research on bioterrism at UTMB soon?

[Lemondropkid31]

I hear strange noises outside. AND I went outside and I smell rain. Is that normal before a hurricane?

[Spktyr]

They have a lot smaller cars on the average there and build accordingly. Unfortunately, they didn't take into account the psychological factors of building those lanes so close together. Ooops.

Of course, the greenies out there have stalled any new construction, so during rush hour it doesn't matter as you just sit there in traffic and idle.

If it doesn't show, I'm a CA emigré.

[Rennes Templar]

Your wife's gonna be healthier...lemonade has sugar in it.

[Spktyr]

Strange noises are not, but the smell of rain is.

[Revel]

"Texas two-lanes are so big that they're four-lanes in other states."

What...Do Texan's have trouble staying on the road?


Sorry I could not resist...LOL

[blondee123]

You bet they are, the libs would like nothing better than a civil war. Heck, most of them don't work, they have time for a war!!!! LOL

[samantha]

Who will pay attention to them? God works in misterious ways, all eyes will be on Houston and the Gulf coast and the Hurricane. All those scumbags in Washington (besides the Democrats)will be strutting their stuff for a local audience who also will have their eyes glued to the tv watching Rita do her damage. Timing is everything.

[CindyDawg]

I guess that's one way to get rid of SUVs

[Lemondropkid31]

It's kinds strong, because I got a sniff of it while sitting here on the couch. So I walked outside of my apartment and it is kinda strong.

[185JHP]

BTTT

[Spktyr]

Under "State Of Emergency", shoot on sight.

[publana]

Texas laws are different when under a state of emergency. Instead of having to drag the looter into your house, you get to shoot anybody in your neighborhood legally. :)

[geopyg]

One of the news guys heard that the road at the south end of the island where there is no wall was ALREADY getting water over the road. They were going to head down and check it out.

[CindyDawg]

We just like elbow room.

[tcrlaf]

Jesu Christe! Have you seen this?

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO

GMZ080-230930-
NW GULF N OF 25N W OF 90W
INCLUDING FLOWER GARDEN BANKS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
1030 PM CDT THU SEP 22 2005


HURRICANE WARNING E OF 95W

TONIGHT
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OR GREATER WITHIN 180 NM
NE QUADRANT...150 NM SE AND NW QUADRANTS...100 NM SW AND 140 NM
NW QUADRANT. HIGHEST WINDS 120 KT GUSTS 145 KT NEAR CENTER. SEAS
12 FT OR GREATER WITHIN 300 NM N SEMICIRCLE AND 250 NM S
SEMICIRCLE. ******HIGHEST SEAS 55 FT.****** REMAINDER AREA WINDS 20 TO 33
KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 9 TO 12 FT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SQUALLS E
OF 95W.

FRI AND FRI NIGHT
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OR GREATER
WITHIN 180 NM NE QUADARNT...160 NM SE AND NW QUADRANTS AND 120
NM SW QUADRANT. HIGHEST WINDS 125 KT GUSTS 155 KT NEAR CENTER OF
RITA FRI DECREASING TO 115 KT GUSTS 140 KT NEAR CENTER OF RITA
FRI NIGHT. SEAS 12 FT OR GREATER WITHIN AREA OF TROPICAL FORCE
WINDS..WITH HIGHEST SEAS 5O FT. ELSEWHERE WINDS 20 TO 33 KT.
SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SQUALLS ENTIRE AREA.

[jeffers]

They are...I expect one or the other to go to UTM any day now.

Somehow a Lib has snuck in there and has bungled things all up...as they are wont to do...speaking of which...

didja see Blanco trying to play like Gen. Honore today?

"If you're going to remain behind, stencil your social security number on your arm on indelible ink."

Blinking up a storm, couldn't look at the camera....heck...I'm surprised she didn't break into tears.

[Palladin]

>>>I hear strange noises outside.<<<

Those are the critters trying to get inside your house to ride out the hurricane with you.

[ekwd]

I made the mistake of taking a VW Beetle to San Angelo in 1975. It turned out that a stop sign in Texas meant "run the VW off the road".

[Mr Cobol]

I agree that they are doing just fine except in the eyes of the MSM. You know the libs, 'why didn't they have evac routes?' 'what took so long to get the people out?' and on and on. The MSM will stir the stick and they won't let it go. JMO.