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

[Dog Gone]

Looks like the forecast track has shifted west this morning. That's good for us in the Houston area.

But we'll have a much better idea with the Wednesday afternoon and evening forecast.

For now, I'm still considering us as a very likely landfall.

[rodguy911]

Yeah that last one was pretty strong we are across the street from the govt. center in Islamorada. I am still a little apprehensive about high tide. We have had water about half way up our street before, so you never know.

[Joe Brower]

Cool and breezy here in Venice, Sarasota county. Air feels dry -- go figure. Quite pleasant, actually.

[RDTF]

http://www.ih2000.net/ira/bmt-wth.htm

[Trust but Verify]

All the discussion I have read so far indicates forecasters do not expect the kind of strengthening Katrina went through. Apparently she stirred up cooler water so the fuel will not be there.

[NautiNurse]

What time is your high tide?

[sheikdetailfeather]

Per Fox, Jeb Bush to hold news onference within 20-30 mins. President Bush is at Andrews AFB heading to the gulf in advance of Rita.

[sheikdetailfeather]

onference=conference.

[james_f_hall]

How do you know this?

[rodguy911]

$2.55 at Tiny's Mobil in Islamorada yesterday. The only cheap thing in the entire Keys.

[AntiGuv]

That's true, it's not forecast to strengthen as much as Katrina (I wouldn't be surprised if it does though, as hot as the Gulf water is right now - it all depends on wind shear). There was an implicit 'all else being equal' in my previous comment. However, bear in mind that Katrina was 'only' a Cat 3 by the time it made it up around NO and the Mississippi coast. Rita is forecast to be a Cat 3 at landfall.

[trillabodilla]

Watching this one closely from here in Baton Rouge. Lots of folks here are worried about the LSU-Tennessee game scheduled for Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

I just pray that no one loses life or property to this storm.

Thanks for the thread and the ping, NN.

[Lanza]

I hear they are clearing out the dome and sending the remaining evacuees to Arkansas.

I am sooo not ready for a hurricane. My husband went to get plywood for our windows last night at Loews. They were out.

[NautiNurse]

Tiny little patch of rain crossing into So. Sarasota Bay...maybe, just maybe we'll get a few drops before the day is over.

[tx_eggman]

Seems to me that this track keeps inching the landfall further east each time we see an update...

Actually, it's move southwest from Freeport (just southwest of Houston) to Corpus Christi since yesterday afternoon ...

[rodguy911]

Around noon I believe, plus a full moon tide, plus waves, so we are waiting to see.

[SE Mom]

3 weeks have passed- plenty of time for the Gulf to re-heat.
Also- this storm is not taking the same track as Katrina so will be passing over waters not touched by her.

[Ellesu]

Thanks, she could easily be a 4 when she hits LA/Texas coast.

[glock rocks]

Announcer says we'll be hearing from Jeb Bush on FoxNews in 15 minutes

[rodguy911]

The water Rita is in now is 86 degrees, plenty hot.