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

[Dog Gone]

Excellent advice, HC.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Oh no, I hadn't thought about no internet for a week! Thanks a lot, now I'm depressed

[CajunConservative]

Oh I most definitely depend on my church family too. I'm Southern Baptist and know that they will be there in times of need. I also know that 100% of the donations to Disaster Relief is used for relief not administrative costs. One of the churches in town is converting one of their educational buildings into apartments to house several families permanently. My church is supporting the ones in town and at the church camp financially. Several teams have been in Covington to help with the cleanup and repairs there.

[hummingbird]

Thanks, Flyer!

HURRICANE BUMP

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I'm from Wichita Falls......... I can sympathize

[Willie Green]

Got any creeks, bayous close to you? Sometimes those can be tricky.

There's nothing that's right next to us...
Although there is a creek called "Faulkey Gulley" that runs alongside the other side of our development.
It's tough to judge since everything is so dang flat around here, but I'd say that we're pretty much on "high ground" (if you can call it that) as far as our development goes...
The house is on a slab that's maybe 1½ ~ 2' above street level...
And when it rains, the water in the street flows away from us in both directions.

[Gabz]

Just filled up a ton of ziplocks with water again, and stuck em in the freezer. Now all I need is beer, and I am ready to go.

smart planning....

[NTegraT]

"then emtied right it after the storm passed. No one had told her what it was for."

LOL

[debg]

I received a New Orleans displaced student in class today. She became VERY anxious when she heard we are under hurricane warning here in Miami. I really felt for her.

[WoodstockCat]

We've got two team from First Baptist Woodstock, GA going to the Katrina area this weekend.
The NAMB has been in there since after the winds died, I pray Rita won't approach Katrina's strength or devistation, the emergency resources are stretched a bit then right now.

[rodguy911]

HI sleuth, everybody,
I just checked the local buoys and so far we have had a 34 knot gust off Marathon at Sombrero Reef Light. We have 86.4 degree water and the barometer is finally starting to drop 29.89 at Mollasses Reef.Mollasses reef is located about 5 miles offshore at approx. Mile marker 100 off key largo. It looks like we are just now getting the first part of the storm.
Key West may get banged pretty good, they could get 8-10 feet of surge and at high tide around midnight and noon tomorrow another foot with the full moon and then you put a wave on it, not a good scenario for ocean side dwellers.

We should be o,k,. Here in the Upper Keys. The storm is hauling butt at 12 knots or better which is a great thing.

[Jaded]

He's the a$$hat 1st runner up. Right behind admiral Nagin of Nagin's Navy.

Surely, they don't all come that stoopid over there.

[IMABUSHY]

I read the info on Broussard's lie on the Drudge Report today. I sure do hope that everyone sees it. The truth is catching up with the MSM slowly but surely - all the hidden things coming to light. About time! I live just south of Lufkin TX so am not in the immediate threat area but will sure keep up with Rita on this great thread. I am new but really do love being a full fledged FREEPER!

[CajunConservative]

They brought supplies back from Lafayette. They had a huge list of things to bring back. Thanks for the tip though.

[Willie Green]

You left spam off the list.

And beer.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I wondered about that - as much as we are nervously joking about getting prepared, it must be a nightmare for those who "escaped" to be in the path once again.

[nwctwx]

Thanks for the pings, I've been away from the computer the past few days...

Can't believe we have another possible nightmare on our hands. I'm ready for winter.

[aBootes]

fanatically moderated Wx boards where there's this massive band of Care-Bare civility police

Well, it's the only I've ever visited, so I have no comparison to make. It doesn't really bother me since I never post, but my personal style pretty much excludes that level of incivility. In particular, I am not convinced that being right is justification for being rude. But perhaps I am something of a stick-in-the-mud on the matter. It is interesting.

[2Jedismom]

That is fantastic!

Two weeks ago, our church took up a collection for disaster relief. We also took up a collection to purchase a "mobile kitchen" trailer to donate to our local association. They said they had to have $10,500 to purchase the mobile kitchen. We collected $18,000 for disaster relief and $35,000 for the mobile kitchen!

So we bought two!

[Gabz]

sorry - didn't mean to depress you.

I was only offline 19 hours - XS got it much worse than we did; we never lost power, just phones.

VA freepers on the other side of the Chesapeake Bay have suffered far worse in the past 3 seasons than we have here on the coast.