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

[LBelle]

I hope your cocktail hour projection is correct. In Islamorada we just got a really nasty squall. By 6 I will be more than ready for cocktails!! In fact I could have one now.

There is a big frog ribbiting his heart out on my front steps. I guess the worst is over if he's singing away. :-)

LBelle

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

[SE Mom]

The SENATE is going to have HEARINGS on hurricane predicting?

That is hilarious...and absurd. Who had THIS bright idea?

[deport]

The following is a link to several weather sites..... There is a navy link which has many Gulf States cities identified on it.... a few graphics down on the link
http://www.ih2000.net/ira/bmt-wth.htm

This is a direct link to the map but you'll need to enlarge it
http://www.nlmoc.navy.mil/center/Tropical/wtnt02.gif

[Txsleuth]

Okay---the LOCAl news in Dallas said that Houston evacuees would be sent to New Mexico and Arkansas...

but, a few minutes ago I heard the NATIONAL news on the same station say that the Katrina evacuees that are IN Houston would be moved to N. Mexico and Arkansas...freeing up the Houston shelters...

I don't know what that would mean if some needed to come to Dallas...I have a feeling if it is THAT bad (God please, NO), that Mayor Miller would make sure we found room.

[samantha]

I remember back in 1998 Hurricane Georges slammed the Keys, and it took weeks for them to get back to just be able to have tourists back.

[Howlin]

Get off this thread. It's against the rules to stalk a poster from thread to thread.

I have asked you REPEATEDLY not to harass me. You've been told by the Admin Moderator to stop posting to me.

Take a hint.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Haha - I was just thinking it is only about a 4 hour drive, isn't it?

[Xenalyte]

Now that is one helluva visual! Regular box skates, or the in-line kind?

[MamaB]

Just saw on Fox that over 200 truckloads of ice/water are ready to deliver to the Keys.

[AppyPappy]

When you see the jet skiers, the worst is over. I hope the Dolphin Research Center is OK

[LikeLight]

One Tornado warning area just south of Key Largo, one near Ft. Lauderdale, and something way up near Tampa. These are warnings, not watches, as I understand it.

[samantha]

That is a great teaching lesson for the laymen. Plain and simple example and language, none of this "vortex" crap.

[NautiNurse]

There is a big frog ribbiting his heart out on my front steps.

He's begging to come in...

[johnb838]

Algore said that Katrina was but the first sip, the first taste, of the bitter cup that has been proffered to us by climate change due to our refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

[Flyer]

Did I hear there is going to be dancing at the party, too?

I'm hoping to hear from the boss that we won't work Friday. That would have me north of town dealing with evacuation traffic.

[MamaB]

Just saw on Fox that it may strengthen to a cat. 3.

[Quilla]

You've got freepmail from Dothan!

[Txsleuth]

LOL---you got me!!

I just saw it advertised on C-span.

[MamaB]

Is that Broward County?