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

[flutters]

This entire situation is just devastatingly sad. I find it hard to believe that a city so vulnerable wasn't better prepared.

[pierrem15]

Based on your "after Katrina" map of the oil rigs (LOLOL!); my wife and I just went out and filled our gas tanks for $2.46. I have a feeling that will be considered CHEAP in the near future.

Just did the same. Ony I wish I had paid $2.46 (paid $2.97 at the cheapest station around).

[pax_et_bonum]

They were pushing their kids on swings in a nearby park.

Dear God...

Why does this remind me of the nuns in the Galveston hurricane of 1900 who tied clothes lines around their waists and then around the waists of many of the orphans they cared for.

None survived. They were discovered later, still tied together.

[Abigail Adams]

They just said 10,000 people waiting outside the dome to get in.

[IndyTiger]

Homeland Security is off base here!

Agree. They need to get those people inside ASAP. Order will not be maintained if they are left outside much longer.

[RDTF]

I thought I saw that too. She is terrific, and I hope that it brings comfort to people to see these folks caring about what they are reporting.

[rwfromkansas]

Okay folks....the decrease in speed has more to do with a speed extrapolation issue.

"Having said that...data from
the stepped-frequency microwave radiometer instrument on board the
aircraft suggest that the surface to 700 mb flight level wind ratio
is not quite as large as we typically use...and the initial
intensity is adjusted slightly to 145 kt. Hurricanes do not
maintain such great intensity for very long. However there are no
obvious large-scale mechanisms...such as increased vertical
shear...to weaken Katrina. The hurricane is likely to make
landfall with category 4 or 5 intensity."

Perhaps because the winds are SPREAD OUT more, they are not quite as intense as would normally be the case for such an intensely low pressure. But, because they are spread out more, we are still taking major devastation over a WIDER AREA.

It certainly does look to be strengthening even more at this point.

[mware]

Holy Mary,

Mother of God

pray for us now

and at the hour of our death.

[Trust but Verify]

I understand your emotions. Mine are the same. For me, it's the feeling of helplessness. I am the type of person who confronts a problem by finding a solution, and then working it to completion.

There is nothing I can do for these people except pray.

[Nasher]

Are the webcams still working?

I'm looking at one right now from Bourbon street where some fool is out there with his videocam.

Too late to leave now as they're closing the bridges...

[LibSnubber]

"This is quite remarkable...am running out of adjectives."

On another thread I said this was nature's version of "shock and awe".

[Txsleuth]

I think we should all be thinking about how we may be able to help after this...I hope there is something left to help, actually...

[alancarp]

I'm beginning to wonder how he got this gig instead of Whorealdo.

'cuz if I know Geraldo, he's trying to charter a boat...

[tiredoflaundry]

Amen

[spectre]

I noticed that as well. Janis Dean is physically ill, and doesn't want to report this.

sw

[Dog]

Mike can you post streaming video links for Abigail...

[Michael Goldsberry]

"I-10 is empty now, at least the bridge out is."

!?

I missed that. I-10 where? NO westbound towards Houston?

[spycatcher]

Thx for tide info. No wonder there was no talk about it (compared to massive storm surge).

[pax_et_bonum]

... you can see children in line. We're just at a loss for words.

There are no words for what I'm afraid is going to happen.

I hope I'm wrong.

[2nd amendment mama]

It will be interesting to see which (if any - which I highly doubt) countries offer us aid if we suffer the expected devistation from Katrina.