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

[sheikdetailfeather]

I like your description of what a tornado sounds like. My own experience was up in Michigan from a basement as one went overhead and it sounded like a loud, low grinding motor flying across with 20 sreaming banshees and Hillary Clinton throwing plates at Bill and leaving in a cloud of dust.

[Sam Cree]

That guy has his own models that he wrote himself, or something weird like that. I don't think even he takes them that seriesly, He usually posts a discussion on the storms that are more in line with everyone else, discusses the real models, etc.

[samantha]

Is it dropping?

[Gabz]

Yikes...........good to hear you're doing OK.

[TXBSAFH]

Pasadena

[rodguy911]

Exactly, very good news. Tide line is going back into the ocean real quick.

I hope everyone noticed the difference in reporting on channel 6 out of Miami between Hank Testor and Ed O'Dell. Testor gave a straight news account of what was going on in Key West. O Dell was blowing things up way worse than in actuality at MM 74 where it is very low. Stark differences there.

[mathluv]

Glad to hear you are okay.

[Dog Gone]

I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas in my rear view mirror, but it's looking a lot better than Ft. Bend County this weekend.

[rodguy911]

Yes they are, thanks, really fast. We dodged one here.

[Lanza]

My good friend who lives here in Taylor Lake Village, just had a phone call of a pre-recorded message saying what route they would be required to leave if there is a mandatory evacuation. There was a recommendation to leave by tomorrow evening if you want to go a different route.

[numberonepal]

The wind has shifted and is pushing the water the other way is my guess. Y'all aren't out of the woods yet, however. Stay safe.

[rodguy911]

We got lucky on many counts, the angle of the storm the forward speed, etc.

[Chasaway]

Pretty interesting analyis here.

Click on "Forecasts" on the left side of the page, then "Model and Forecast Discussion".

[Go AWAY, Rita!]

[mathluv]

LOL!!! Are you a Mac Davis fan?

[MEG33]

Glad you are OK.

[Chasaway]

I just read his forecast discussion and it's like you say...it pretty much lines up with the consensus:

"Nobody knows."

[NautiNurse]

6 mb drop since daybreak.

[rodguy911]

Thanks Gabz,everyone,
I'll tell you about an hour ago we had a roar form the wind that really did get your attention. You knew it was time to get back in the house.

[rodguy911]

Thanks will do.
I would guess it will keep blowing til about dark and by morning this will be a recent memory and by the weekend a distant memory.

[Michael Goldsberry]

My Sugar Land house has never flooded, even when all the streets around me were. It came up on the driveway a couple of times, but that was when pretty much everyone else was already swimming.

Now, if this thing grows strong enough to knock down a brick structure then no, it's not far enough and I'm screwed.

As far as the Galveston house goes, well... I suspect that's going to be gone.