Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part V

NHC - NOAA ^ | 28 August 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the North Central Gulf of Mexico. Mandatory evacuation of New Orleans is finally underway. Louisiana officials are warning of complete failure to levy systems, and pleading with people to leave low lying areas. For those who choose to stay, they are recommending picks and axes for breaking through to access their roofs during flooding.

Due to the size and intensity of this storm, all interests in the North Gulf of Mexico should be rushing hurricane preparations to completion.

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
Navy Storm Track
Katrina Track Forecast Archive Nice loop of each NHC forecast track for both three and five day
Forecast Models
Alternate Hurricane Models via Skeetobite
Bouy Data Louisiana/Mississippi
Buoy Data Florida

Images:

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Experimental Radar Subject to delays and outages - and well worth the wait

Mobile Long Range Radar Loop

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Radar

Ft. Polk, LA Long Range Radar Loop

Northwest Florida Long Range Radar

Storm Floater IR Loop
Storm Floater Still & Loop Options
Color Enhanced IR Loop

Other Resources:

Hurricane Wind Risk Very informative tables showing inland wind potential by hurricane strength and forward motion
Central Florida Hurricane Center
New Orleans Web Cams Loads of web cam sites here. The sites have been very slow due to high traffic
New Orleans Music Online Couldn't resist--love that jazz
Golden Triangle Weather Page Nice Beaumont weather site with lots of tracks and graphics
Hurricane City
Crown Weather Tropical Website Offers a variety of storm info, with some nice track graphics

Live streaming:
copy/paste into player:

http://www.wjbo.com - BR radio station. Callers calling in and describing traffic etc.
WWL-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_wwltv
WVTM-TV/DT Birmingham (WMP) - mms://a1256.l1289835255.c12898.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1256/12898/v0001/reflector:35255
WDSU-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - http://mfile.akamai.com/12912/live/reflector:38202.asx
Hurricane City (Real Player) - http://hurricanecity.com/live.ram
ABCNews Now (Real Player) - http://reallive.stream.aol.com/ramgen/redundant/abc/now_hi.rm
WKRG-TV/DT Mobile (WMP) - mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95518

Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part IV
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

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

[Pyro7480]

CNN: FEMA has been told this storm WILL NOT WEAKEN before landfall..

The NHC would have told them this, in all liklihood. What's your take on that?

[Types_with_Fist]

It's criminal stupidity the likes of which I don't think I've seen before.

Well, obviously, you're not from Louisiana...:-)

But you are absolutely correct. They HAD NO PLAN other than to continue to count on their dumb luck.

[Mister Baredog]

It's criminal stupidity the likes of which I don't think I've seen before.

I guess it will be Bush's fault, right?(the MSM is probably busy right now planning their evil headlines).

BTW this WAS a cat 1 storm when it crossed Florida Thursday headed for who knew where.

[Dog]

That is up since noon time..

[Callahan]

DUers are speculating that the hurrican damage will cause oil prices to spike and hurt the President's approval number. What's a national disaster worth if you can't cash in politically?

[nicmarlo]

omg

[Torie]

You can see that blip to the west of the eye just at the end that might suggest that the eye will go west of NO rather than east. I know those than know say it will turn due north, but if it goes much farther west, the turn north will cause the eye to go to the west of NO, which would be good news for NO from a flood standpoint, since the Lake Pontchetrain doomsday scenario will not be as much in play. However, from a wind damage standpoint it will be worse, and given the strength of this storm, that might not be much of a bargain.

[BubbaJunebug]

It's gonna jog to the west and miss N.O....Take it from me the expert...cause I'm in a Holiday Inn Express....about 800 miles away...safe

[tomkat]

A phoned-in report from some Foxbabe just said she could 'hear a lone horn playing' somewhere in the French Quarter...

[topher]

Regarding Contraflow...

At some point, you may have to get additional things into a threatened area. If there are additional buses and other supplies that can be moved in, then you need the Southbound direction open.

Some folks in charge had better be organized and know what they are doing. This is one mean lady (Hurricane Katrina). Let's hope for a Lili scenario (Cat 3 storm diminishes to Cat 1 just before landfall).

[And for someone who asked, contraflow means that both sides of a Freeway or Interstate are used to go in one direction -- using all four lanes for evacuation]

[Txsleuth]

and without electricity!

But, I won't be surprised if looting takes place!

[ladyjane]

I hope the dumb mayor and governor have to ride out this storm in the superdome.

[jeffers]

I know, I wasn't disputing you either. For some idiotic reason which I can't even comprehend now, I decided I'd never need hydraulics when I lined up my gut classes in civil engineering. I've paid for it ever since.

Thanks for the update.

[SunnySide]

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/maps/images/satrad/sat/Rgoes_USA_450T8.jpg

Another shot of big bird, the swan shaped hurricane

[deport]

Does anyone have any info on how far out from the eye does each segment of wind extend and in which quandrants?

Example: 175 mph: 150 mph: 125 mph: and on down?

[Jeff Head]

I heard them talking about emergency generators. I wanted to ask them where those generators are located.

Anywhere in the bowl...unless they are twenty or more feet above ground level...they are going to be down once the levees top or are breached.

Have they opened up the counter lanes for outbound traffic yet?

Best thing is if the storm varies enough to veer off to the west or east and avoid a direct impact with the worst of the surge. That is what we are praying for now.

That news conference earlier was terrible. A lot of talk and mush IMHO...very little substance and it should have been filled with substance at that point.

Just my opinion.

[Laurita]

Yes, the roof could very well collapse or be ripped off. But there's no 100% safe place. There hasn't been a structure built that can withstand Nature at her worst, but there's hope. Better to be on a yacht than a pirogue, better to be in the Superdome than stuck in a riverfront house. There is a potential for great loss of life inside the Superdome and outside of it.

[NautiNurse]

Outer bands are reaching the LA shoreline.

[AnAmericanMother]

Just the last line three times - once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Spirit.

I am saying a Rosary this afternoon for the City and People of New Orleans.

All we can do at this point is pray, and pray like mad.

[mware]

Did I just hear the Fox reporter say that they are playing Amazing Grace throughout the city????