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

[RDTF]

Ahhhh

[Eaker]

I don't like liberals starting stupid rumors.

You "knock it off".

[Lemondropkid31]

Hmm Cute guy

[numberonepal]

And best of all, she's a Florida Gator.

She's a 'Nole and a Gator.

Previously, Ms. Abrams was morning meteorologist at WTXL, the ABC affiliate in Tallahassee, FL. A native of Wellington, FL (near West Palm Beach), she graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Meteorology from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. She also earned a B.S. degree in geography from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, where she graduated with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In addition, she has acquired a minor in mathematics.

http://www.weather.com/aboutus/television/ocms/sabrams.html

[janetjanet998]

tregarding GALVESTON..
the flood wall is on the gulf side only right? but what if rita hits as a 4 just east of there..everyone is saying that would be good becuase the highest of the surge is to the right of the storm.. but what if the surge comes in thru the backdoor out of the bay

[LuLuLuLu]

Dog Gone is in Houston.

[laz]

They aren't the same thing?

Heh heh. Apparently not. The snakes and turtles are smarter.

Recall C. Ray Nagin. Replace with Cecil Turtle as mayor.

[No Blue States]

I just drove south from Burleson on I35 to Alvarado and back looking for someone to help. (10 miles)

One woman in a van was pulled over but some nice man in a white truck was already helping her. Traffic was avg 60mph but building. Gas is about 2.79 but the Citgo on Renfro and I35 has it for 2.64. The rest stops are busy but not full.

At I35 and Renfro the Lubys on the right going north is signing up evacs to send to areas shelters who have space. Pets will be kept at kennels. Electronic signs are in use to direct those wanting help to the Lubys.

If I were on 145 I would try to make it West to Waco or Hillsboro and come up I35 to Fort Worth.

(gas prices have rose here .20+ in 48 hrs)

Texas Map:

http://uweb.txstate.edu/~LH1150/ex6map.gif


(8:30-9am 9-21-05)

[steveegg]

WDSU out of NOLA is already back to live streaming (choose your viewer and connection speed here)

[RDTF]

Mayor Williams of DC reminds me of a turtle.

[steveegg]

Ping for WDSU-NOLA streaming info.

[Zacs Mom]

"I just drove south from Burleson on I35 to Alvarado and back looking for someone to help. (10 miles) "

No Blue States ~ You ARE the spirit of Texas!

[AppyPappy]

Both of you knock it off or I'll stop this car.

[dfwgator]

Your undergrad is your true school.

[SouthTexas]

The surge, or push, is greater on the "dirty" side of the storm. The water will rise almost, if not the same, on the "clean" side, but without the same crushing force.

[brothers4thID]

If we ignore Phillipe will he act all snooty and offended and come thumb his nose at us? Maybe we should threaten him and make him run away.

[Sooner Gal]

I was wondering what part of Houston

[fishntex]

One of the helicopter shots show cars driving through fields to get around the bus

I saw that right before I left for the office. I do not like it when people do that stuff in normal rush hour traffic but in this case I may have done the same thing.

[RDTF]

live coverage here too:

KTRK-TV in Houston
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=nation_world&id=3465956

[jbstrick]

thanks Appy...

they have been at it ALL morning.