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

[Ditter]

Never has even come close in 25 years.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Aberlour.........my favorite

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Oh now, I don't need help getting myself into trouble......you know what I meant!

[numberonepal]

Any idea what is going on with this storm? I thought I saw a bit of an eye earlier today on IR, but then it disappeared. Could this stability/lack of intensification be the result of an ERC? Just a scary thought.

[WoodstockCat]

Everyone that is in the path of Rita has GOT to take responsiblity for themselves and their families...and NOT blame others.

That's true but this is something has nothing to do with blame. Those families suffered as the result of a terrorist attack, these families sufferered as a result of a natural event, an act of God (can I still say that?), and event for which they had at least 48 hours of warning to get the heck out of the dodge. I agree this has to be stopped, let him scream "lynching" or "slave ship" as loud as he wants...

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

My husband builds cell towers for a living - he got some pictures from a colleague doing damage assessment in Louisiana - a Tower rated for 140 mph straight winds crumpled like a piece of paper............ they are all stunned

Also, those concrete buildings you see at the base of a tower weigh something like 58,000 pounds - one was obviously lifted with water and off it's base, on it's side.........everyone was stunned by this storm

[Txslady]

Thanks for the ping and the link Flyer! :o)

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Over ice!

[shield]

At least your poles are newer...that's been a problem out here...poles are so old they've been breaking. Sounds like you may be close to one of the prison farms, off Pkwy. 99?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Of course.........

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Yes, I am......I love the signs reminding us not to pick up hitchhikers..........lol

[Dog Gone]

but I'm due to go grocery shopping Wednesday/Thursday anyway.

Don't wait until Thursday to buy ice. There won't be any.

[RoseyT]

"Hey - I'll get in line twice for the Red Cross relief Money, ok? I might need a plasma tv too!"

My kiddos need sneakers. Can y'all hook me up? :)

[Dog Gone]

Gee, you already got in trouble for inviting all the guys over, now you tell us your storm apparel is t-shirts and towels.

This sounds like an interesting party. I'll just tell my wife that I forgot to buy a manual can opener and head out into the storm. She'll never be the wiser.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Hey wait - you're the one with 5 bedrooms......you should be hosting this party!

[NautiNurse]

I'm due to go grocery shopping Wednesday/Thursday anyway.

Best to move up your shopping trip a couple of days. Try to spin down your freezer contents this week, replacing with plastic bottles filled with water bottles. They make excellent ice blocks.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I'll see what I can do........;^)

[RDTF]

LOL! Brit just called Nothin Nagin "Mr. It"

[Txslady]

Pinging Cath! and thank you, Diddle E. Squat

[Flyer]

Do you think we will need five bedrooms?

Wow, this IS gonna be some party.