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

[Lanza]

I guess San Antonio is in our future for the weekend.

[abb]

If they KNEW, it wouldn't be called "forecasting...."

[Txsleuth]

bttt

[TX Bluebonnet]

I was just told yesterday that my homeowners insurance deductible will be 1%, unless it's a named storm, then it will be 2%.

I have never heard that before on a Homeowners policy in all of my 18 years in insurance. You do see that sometime on a boat policy.

[ContemptofCourt]

Yeah, but at least they don't WISHCAST, like some others tend to do....

[Revel]

"KHOU TV in Houston says Galveston County could call for evacuations as early as tomorrow."

I was wondering where the astro dome was ?


And I don't know if you noticed or not, but many people have been posting rita stuff on the main forum. Just updates and stuff. When you do your next thread could you please put it in at least front page if not breaking news. Thanks :)

[anymouse]

How could an ant possibly know?

Ants have exoskeletons. A major low barometric pressure change, which attracts hurricanes would cause noticeable pain to an exoskeleton insect, different than localized trauma pain.

Same as how arthritis sufferers know when a bad storm is coming, when the low barometric pressure pushes the Nitrogen bubbles in their joints to vent.

[Lanza]

"WISHCAST."
That's awesome.

[shield]

I was a little kid during Carla...but everything was flooded and in those days we didn't have the development we've got today.

Forecasting today will MOST PROBABLY not hold...by Wednesday we'll all have a better idea...have any thoughts?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Good advice - thanks - we lived in the northeast and had a basement for the one and only time in our lives. Two months after buying the house, Hurricane Floyd came through and we had 4 inches of water in our basement.

That doesn't sound bad except that we had no experience with a basement so we still had many unopened boxes of treasures down there.............

We now own about 45 plastic bins - my son and I were just discussing getting all of his Father's military stuff into bins "just in case"........ is that sweet or what? Thinking of Dad first............

[Hattie]

What are the busses for?

And even more importantly, "Where will they go?"

[abb]

And where, oh where will we find the drivers!!

[LA Woman3]

That was Nagin's plan!
But spell "bus" backwards....

[Hattie]

HUH??? It's not even in the gulf yet.

Only one bridge to mainland and many poor in outlying areas of island.

[Txsleuth]

I just heard on Fox that Mayor Nagin is getting ready to have a press conference...so MAYBE he is getting ready to tell the mayors in Texas how to handle evacuations for Hurricane Rita...

LOLOLOL

[shield]

Astrodome ready for who exactly? If it's for a hurricane in our area...Judge Eckels says it'd be Brown Convention Center.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

He's already to blame President Bush for bringing another hurricane in to take the spotlight off of him.

[james_f_hall]

I imagine Houston pre-positions food and supplies at its shelters? I hope. But then again this is Houston we are talking about. I know Corpus does a good job!!

Lets pray this thing fizzles in the Gulf or hits King Ranch...

[Lanza]

Yeah Nagin. He's a real genius isn't he?

Now he's moaning about the Fema dude, saying he's crowned himself mayor. What a peice of work. He still seems not the least bit concerned about his residents safety.

[Blennos]

was just told yesterday that my homeowners insurance deductible will be 1%, unless it's a named storm, then it will be 2%.

I have never heard that before on a Homeowners policy in all of my 18 years in insurance. You do see that sometime on a boat policy.

I have the same clause in my homeowners insurance. I am told it is common here in Louisiana.