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Part VI: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1490045/posts |
Posted on 09/22/2005 5:44:09 PM PDT by 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
That is very sad~ :(
Those poor people. This is just so sad.........I pray for them and their families.
being carried http://www.wfaa.com
ABC out of Dallas
Wow! 24 hrs. to San Antonio. It took my son 12 hours to drive to Waco from the Galleria area.
It took him 8 hrs just to get to Hempstead. He was exhausted, he has a stick shift.
OMG - the sheriff just said 45 were on board - only about half got off
Truly tragic. Isn't it odd all the side stories from Katrina and Rita have all been about buses?
She's sucking dry air into her. She'll continue to decrease before landfall. That's why the eye is so ragged. She'll most probably will not re-strengthen.
Good. Maybe those that couldn't get out yesterday, can today.
From KTRK Houston/WFAA Dallas: 20 dead in accident.
KTRK-TV/DT Houston (ABC13) Live stream: http://ktrktv.wm.llnwd.net/ktrktv_live
I'll post the full list shortly...
sadly, that number may be low
| Wind Direction (WDIR): | NNE ( 20 deg true ) |
| Wind Speed (WSPD): | 23.3 kts |
| Wind Gust (GST): | 31.1 kts |
| Wave Height (WVHT): | 13.1 ft |
| Dominant Wave Period (DPD): | 14 sec |
| Average Period (APD): | 8.3 sec |
| Mean Wave Direction (MWDIR): | E ( 94 deg true ) |
| Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): | 29.65 in |
| Pressure Tendency (PTDY): | -0.04 in ( Falling ) |
| Air Temperature (ATMP): | 80.2 °F |
| Water Temperature (WTMP): | 85.5 °F |
| Dew Point (DEWP): | 73.0 °F |
| Heat Index (HEAT): | 84.6 °F |
| Combined plot of Wind Speed, Gust, and Air Pressure | |
| Wind Direction (WDIR): | N ( 360 deg true ) |
| Wind Speed (WSPD): | 23.3 kts |
| Wind Gust (GST): | 27.2 kts |
| Wave Height (WVHT): | 14.1 ft |
| Dominant Wave Period (DPD): | 14 sec |
| Average Period (APD): | 8.4 sec |
| Mean Wave Direction (MWDIR): | E ( 98 deg true ) |
| Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): | 29.61 in |
| Pressure Tendency (PTDY): | -0.03 in ( Falling ) |
| Air Temperature (ATMP): | 84.2 °F |
| Water Temperature (WTMP): | 84.7 °F |
| Dew Point (DEWP): | 73.9 °F |
| Heat Index (HEAT): | 91.4 °F |
| Combined plot of Wind Speed, Gust, and Air Pressure | |
| TIME(CDT) | WDIR | WSPD |
|---|---|---|
| 6:50 am | N ( 0 deg ) | 22.5 kts |
| 6:40 am | N ( 2 deg ) | 23.3 kts |
| 6:30 am | N ( 0 deg ) | 22.5 kts |
| 6:20 am | N ( 0 deg ) | 21.6 kts |
| 6:10 am | N ( 356 deg ) | 21.4 kts |
| 6:00 am | N ( 355 deg ) | 21.6 kts |
I think the weakening was due to eyewall replacement. She's remained steady at 140 all night, and I expect some re-strengthening during the course of today.
Local ABC affiliate had not heard, reported it to them and told them where they could get the link. My friend in Houston called and told me about it.
Her son has just arrived at the outskirts of Austin. Craig, his wife and the children were on the road 29 hours. They lost several cars in their caravan. Have had some water, but ran out of food.
I know - I'm watching KTRK now. It doesn't look good.
KHOU-TV/DT Houston
KPRC-TV/DT Houston
KTRK-TV/DT Houston
KTRH-AM Houston
KPLC-TV/DT Lake Charles/Lafayette
With the lack of gasoline, folks should very carefully consider leaving now. Folks are stuck in cities along the evac routes waiting for gas.
Now the MSM will congratulate Nagin for not using the buses and risking them blowing up on the highway.
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