Hurricane Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 20 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita is in the Florida Straits, impacting the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for numerous portions of South Florida. Check local weather statements for updates.

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

Rita Forecast Track Archive
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
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband 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)

WTVJ-TV/DT Miami (NBC6)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (CBS 4)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (Fox)

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

Previous Threads:
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[Coldwater Creek]

You are always going to see BIG storms in Okla.

[rodguy911]

It's coming at a weird angle to Key West. They will really get the hammer.
Just went outside. High tide right now but water still rising. We may get water in the garage, it could go either way. It's like it just keeps coming a little at a time.In front of my mailbox right now.

[Sam Cree]

What do you estimate for the max winds and surge at your location, Rodguy? I'm trying to figure out how things are about 7 miles up the road from you.

Here in Perrine, it's pretty close to a non event, luckily.

I've been watching my barometer and it hasn't even dropped that much. A few weeks ago, when Katrina blew through here, I couldn't believe how fast it fell, considering we all thought that one would go through lower PBC.

[laz]

Up to 85 MPH now.

Like I said, she's a late bloomer, but blooming fast.

[samantha]

15 mins ago at least four National Guard Helicopters left flying Southeast from here in South Central Florida. We have no rain but a lot of wind two days in a row. You keysters always have lots of wind. Ruh Roh it is 85 mph sustained winds now. Good Luck Rod Guy, looks like Reinforcements are coming to help. Thanks Jeb, glad you are not Blanco.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Well I have bottled water but didn't have any large containers - so my Southern Engineering "Degree" kicked in..........;^)

[kassie]

LOL, now that I'd like to see!!

[Chasaway]

Shield. Dude (Dudess?).

...can't you post any pictures of storms not coming this way? Like when they've turned around and gone away, or just disappeared or something?

You keep this up and I'll be headed for New Braunfels with my computer in the bed of my truck before the day's out. And I hope the wife and kids will know what to do when they get home after school and won't be too scared.

Maybe I can leave a note with what needs to be done around here.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Hey - I'm a white girl - I can only dance so well............ ok, I'll try

[rodguy911]

THanks we will.

[NautiNurse]

Inland conditions are a function of the windspeed at landfall, and the forward speed of the storm. The slower the forward speed, the faster decay of inland windspeed.

However, the slower forward speed increases the rain potential.

Finally, tornados are always a possibility. Wind Risk Areas shows the inland potential of a Cat 3 landfall for various forward speeds.

[kassie]

Hey, can B. tape the dance for later viewing???

[TXBSAFH]

It promises to be a fun weekend.

[Sam Cree]

These things are giving me gray hairs too. More of them than I already got, I mean. Oh well, I think we only have another 10 years or so of these high activity hurricane seasons, then things should settle down for another 20 years or so ;-)

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Look at it this way - you won't have to mow the yard Saturday......... I keep looking at the backyard - hidden from view of the front that HAS to be kept perfect - dang i need to mow..........lol

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

He could do it for his Film class I guess..........lol.......smartazz.......

[samantha]

That sounds like Jeanne, she came around 12 am, but there was a lot of wind and wicked weather before she got there. Jeanne hung around until way past daylight the next day. We had most likely at least 12 or more hours of sustained winds of 115-120 mph.

[rodguy911]

I think we have had sustained to about 55 knots(60mph) maybe gusts somewhat higher, surge3-4 feet but it's still coming up not over yet.

[freeperfromnj]

Hurricane Rita Lashes Florida Keys

Rita promised to continue gaining strength as it crossed the warm Gulf of Mexico for a weekend landfall, most likely in Texas although Louisiana could end up in the path of what could become a major hurricane.

....."Right now, we expect that Rita will remain a Category 1 hurricane as it affects the Keys," said Chris Sisko, also a meteorologist at the hurricane center. "Further out, we do anticipate further strengthening up to Category 3, or major hurricane status." Category 3 storms have maximum sustained wind of 130 mph.....

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2005/09/20/225163.html

[TX Bluebonnet]

Hotels are pretty scarce in San Antonio and Austin. Finally found a room for my parents in Boerne. Mom is on oxygen and can't be without power.