Tropical Storm Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 18 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Tropical Storm Rita has developed from TD 18 in the Atlantic Ocean. TS Rita is currently located north of Hispaniola, the eastern tip of Cuba, and ESE of Nassau, Bahamas. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for portions of Florida. Check for local weather statements.

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
Forecast Models
Buoy Data SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only!
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (WMP) - http://dayport.wm.llnwd.net/dayport_0025_live"
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (WMP) - mms://216.242.118.141/broadband

Other Resources:

Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City

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

[johnb838]

Aaarrrrgh! This is what my Allstate guy told me. I'll ask him why.

[johnb838]

Aaarrrgh! But we're under very high pressure and it hasn't even begun to think about weakening. I can even see it about the pressure gradient. It gives me a sense of foreboding. Now, the crick in my shoulder which I had gotten rid of over the weekend is back, but I thought that was just because I was back at work and my ergonomics aren't good.

[No Blue States]

Thanks, good job on putting them in order.

I also found a graphic showing potential storm surge
but only for SE TX. If anyone finds one for Houston it may prove useful.

hurricane surge map for Sabine pass area:
(move mouse over catagory legend to see predicted surge)

http://www.kfdm.com/hurricane_surgemap.shtml

I found this and a ton of information and maps here:

http://www.ih2000.net/ira/bmt-wth.htm

[john316]

Not anymore...working for a private wx company

[johnb838]

We do preposition, but we just fed a lot of food to our neighbors. I hope we have some left for ourselves. Think the Louisianians would be neighbors to US?

[ContemptofCourt]

Yeah, I know...but your comment that it would be a "strong Cat 3" in the Keys is inaccurate....it ain't gonna bomb that much in 24 hrs.

Pressure is not up, and the winds are not up....and it is moving W, not WNW as progged, so the Keys are looking a bit better.

[WoodstockCat]

AAAAAAARrgghhh!
(just like the Fedex commercial that's all I can say)

[Arrowhead1952]

You'd better keep an eye on this one girl. I sort of hope it does hit the Tx coast and bring some rain to Central Tx. We just don't need a CAT 5 hitting Galveston, the Houston or CC areas.

[janetjanet998]

storm surge maps are estimates for a "average" size hurricane...giving the same intensity, the bigger the storm area wise the higher the surge..thats why Katrina had record surge it was very strong and very big...Rita will be large also..

[VirginiaMom]

Just a nit picky thing, but last week when Nagin was with the President and Banko.....he was very obviously chewing gum. I think that goes to show his level of respect. I thought it was tacky as heck.

[Flyer]

My ping list is old and I see a lot of Houston area folks on this thread that are not on it.

Potential storm surge maps for the Houston area at #996

[johnb838]

Aaarrrgh! Ye can't be predictin' these things, matey, they does what they wants ta do. Aaaarrrgh! Shiiiiver me timbers.

[janetjanet998]

you may be correct..i thought the speed was 10 MPH for but its 14MPH now...not enough time to get to a Cat 3 now by the keys...also the faster the speed the less time that trough will have to bend it north later..good for LA bad for texas

[No Blue States]

WOW..check this out..

Click "show flood" to see a graphic of Houston storm surge, also click the Galveston map to see the surge there:
(click play)


http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/05/hurricane/index.html

[jpsb]

I am thinking straight into Mexico.

[SaveTheChief]

Gotta ask because I am basically ignorant about these things. If this thing develops into a significant storm and hits in the worst possible place for Houston, am I safe up here in Montgomery County?

[Lanza]

No. I heard that in a news clip an hour or so ago on Fox.

[mhking]

My oldest daughter asked me about the significance of the warmth of the GOM.

I told her to imagine a steaming hot bathtub filled to the rim with hot water. Then toss an entire case of extra-strength Alka-Seltzer in. Oh. And by the way. Just before you toss the Alka-Seltzer, pull the plug on the tub.

She cringed.

[Types_with_Fist]

14mph? That's a pretty good clip for a big unorganized storm, isn't it?

[CajunConservative]

Um, don't you think that with all of the shelters being open that things are in place to provide whatever is needed? Come on over if you want to but I would seriously look to moving west of the landfall. Remember most of MS was tore up from Katrina. We are probably going to get something similar. Katrina missed most of the western and northern part of the state.