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

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for the update and the streaming link!

[Txsleuth]

Thanks for that amazing description...the poster is correct, though...IF there has to be a hurricane in the Miss. area...NOW would be better than after repairs are started...

but, New Orleans---NO WAY...could that be good AT ALL.

[brytlea]

Whats cool about that map is ALL of them showing this puppy avoiding us! Even the one that is headed straight for us suddenly veers north at the last moment. I like that map!
susie

[Perdogg]

Accuweather has the hurricane hitting Galveston TX.

[dogbyte12]

Do you know anything about that AEMI one that has it hitting Louisiana like the BAMMS?

The AEMI one has it hitting my front yard or so. Oh well, it really is too soon to tell. Could still end up in Mexico.

[CindyDawg]

This storm looks like it could go anywhere but See 264.

[bannie]

It goes to Greek alphabet after we get to Wilma.

Does it really??? Whose name starts with "Epsilon"?

[bannie]

(kidding!!!)

[Dog Gone]

[brytlea]

Whose name starts with "Epsilon"?

Tau Kappa...oh, wait, that one ENDS with Epsilon.... My bad...

susie

[NautiNurse]

I'm not an expert for the model strengths and weaknesses. We'll have the 11:00PM update shortly. Best to wait for the track forecast from NHC.

[MobileLiam]

This links to several good sat. loops. I like to look ahead of the storm and see where things are going.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-atl.html

[NautiNurse]

Philippe is officially a hurricane now.

[MobileLiam]

Dr. Jeff Masters had some interesting comments at "Weather Underground". Worth checking out.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

[STARWISE]

For BROADBAND users .. animated version with system position overlays

http://www.nlmoc.navy.mil/sat/aor/sst/0509190020.gif

[STARWISE]

Anyone heard from rodguy?

[NautiNurse]

Statement as of 11:00 PM EDT on September 18, 2005

...Rita moving closer to the southeastern Bahamas...
...New watches and warnings issued for southern Florida...

 
at 11 PM EDT...0300z... the Hurricane Watch for the Florida Keys has
been upgraded to a Hurricane Warning. A Hurricane Warning is now in
effect for all of the Florida Keys and Florida Bay from Ocean Reef
southward and westward to Dry Tortugas.

 
At 11 PM EDT... the tropical storm watch for the extreme
southeastern Florida Peninsula has been upgraded to a Tropical
Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch. A Tropical Storm Warning and a
Hurricane Watch are now in effect from Deerfield Beach southward to
Florida City and continuing westward to East Cape Sable.

[dogbyte12]

Reading over some blogs, it appears that the 11PM track will have it heading more north. Talking about a Houston to NO landfall in play. Supposedly Max Mayfield said something about this on FOX news. I wasn't watching.

[kingu]

I love the graphic, and agree - why did I click on it?

[mcshot]

Thanks for the explanation from a hurricane nut in snow country.

mc