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

[Tarpon]

Yeah that's about what I surmised from the IR-4 loop. Eye forming looks too far north of the predicted tracks, appears to be moving WNW not due West. Short fuse on this one.

[brytlea]

Where is the graphic you're looking at, if I might ask?
susie

[Tarpon]

Here you GOES IR-4 Loop

[SE Mom]

Yeah...and look how well formed Stan is becoming on Rita's backside..

[brytlea]

Gracias very mucho!
susie

[LA Woman3]

Nagin better not let those people back in NO yet.



Especially when they are concerned about the Levy's....

[Strategerist]

That's Phillipe, which formed before Rita (and incidentally which will be a Hurricane at 11PM)...

It basically has a next to nonexistent chance of threatening the US, as it's heading north.

[NautiNurse]

That little system wedged between Rita and Philippe appears to be moving away from Rita and interacting with Philippe.

[CindyDawg]

I don't read the satellites very well but it looks like a mess out there.

[Amelia]

Wait til you have kids of your own & hear your parents' voices coming out of *your* mouth. That is SCARY!

[BigSkyFreeper]

Right. I meant Q

[dc-zoo]

Well the two BAM runs are sure scaring the hell out of some people tonight.

[SE Mom]

Too much action out there. Phillipe is looking pretty well organized.

The Gulf has had three weeks to re-warm since Katrina.

[AnAmericanMother]

Levy's.

Levees.

[TheMom]

*LOL*

[LA Woman3]

Thanks.....: )

[CindyDawg]

I understood your post, but is that it? That's the levee? I was expecting...well I don't know what I was expecting but I thought it would be higher.

[Tall_Texan]

That little system wedged between Rita and Philippe appears to be moving away from Rita and interacting with Philippe.

Making it a gay wave?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Another interesting factoid I ran across last week on the Weather Channel website was that former and now deceased Tropical Weather Expert John Hope worked for the National Weather Service at the Hurricane Center, and they choose the names of the upcoming hurricanes, he chose the name Camille, after his daughter, for the letter 'C' in 1969, and the rest is history... The name Camille has long since been retired.

Picture of John Hope, Tropical Weather Expert, who worked at The Weather Channel from 1982 to 2002 as one of the first on-air meterologists.

[brytlea]

I wish I could name storms... Like I've always thought it would be cool to name paint colors. Ok...I'm easily amused....
susie