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

[dirtboy]

Don't look at Bastardi, just listen and you will learn something.

Really?

Bastardi was on H&C last night sticking to his forecast track just east of Galveston.

That ain't happening that I can see.

[fjsva]

Houston FD scanner link

http://www.weatherserver.net/hurricanecenter/

[tx_eggman]

That would be Dr. Neil Frank .... he's worth payubg paying attention to, he was (13 years) the director of the NHC

[justa-hairyape]

Fox News radio update.... Breach in the levy...water pouring into the 9th ward....

According to sat images New Orleans has been getting lots of moisture over it in the form of large feeder bands for the past hour or two.

[Mo1]

They are saying water is going into the 9th ward in NO

Army corps of engineers says there is no breakage

[Fresh Wind]

I wonder if the bus explosion might have been due to people smoking around the oxygen tanks, rather than a bus fire?

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

It's Bush's fault!

[Ichneumon]

Who was it the other night who had 4 cases of beer, 4 boxes of ammo, and a box of Little Debbies? I still don't understand why anyone would short themselves on the Little Debbies.

ROFL!

[shield]

Doc Frank was also with the NHC for 25yrs and 13yrs director...I pay attention to him over anyone else. I've learned to trust his judgement. When he disagrees with all others...and of course he doesn't ever say that, however, he'll continue to forecast as he sees it.

[LivFREEordie]

God Bless You for pitching in and for sharing this with us. Brought tears to my eyes.

You all are in my prayers!

[jeffers]

No, not that I know of...the issue is that the left edge of the maximum surge is tracking just a fuzz north of where it will really hurt Houston and Galveston. Since those are by far the largest population centers at risk right now, missing them has to count as a victory.

Bwteim, agreed. It should contract when it settles down.

[4everontheRight]

I love Dr. Frank!!! I remember him from my hurricane watch days in coastal MS.....he is a good egg and knows his stuff.

[pamlet]

I don't know if Joe Soebel still does the weather on KTSA in San Antonio - he'd call into the station. I loved him! He was usually right on the money!

[steveegg]

That's some seriously-good news. Those last 2 shots (7:15 and 7:45 am CDT) also appear encouraging.

[truthandlife]

See post 2000. I thought this would happen to the hurricane.

[sarasota]

Thank you for caring--and for sharing. God bless.

[RDTF]

God bless you for what you are doing. It is a horrible human tragedy, and I am shedding many tears too.
But I have to say, I didn't grow up rich and I remember how my parents made me realize the value of making something of myself and not settling for just getting by so that I wouldn't be one of those people. I don't believe the color of my skin had anything to do with any accomplishments I've made. The bigger hurdle has been being female.

[jeffers]

Got it, thanks for the report.

Can't post what I want to in response, but you can probably guess the tone.

:-(

[uncbob]

FOX & Friends reports that we will have "GAS PAINS SOON!"

Yeahand they and the rest of the media will hype it into hysteria

[SouthTexas]

Yep, picks are in. Putting my money on your boy this weekend (for the moment anyway).