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]

we will cross our fingers for you. I am on high ground and bayside so flooding isn't a concern in our neighborhood, but we have lots of friends on lower ground who will be holding their breath until high tide passes.

Our big worry is the large tree in our backyard neighbor's yard that littered our yard and our next door neighbor's yard during Katrina. Hopefully if it falls it's on it's owner's house. Homeowner won't respond to requests to prune it so we are going to hatrack it asap. We even offered to pay to have it done nicely but when nice fails take matters into your own hands. It's encroaching on both our yards and we are sick of cleaning it up.

[SE Mom]

Exactly.

Stay safe:)

[laz]

Eye seems to be forming rapidly now, after languishing all night.

[trillabodilla]

After viewing the sattellite image this morning, I notice the storm is more symmetrical. Yesterday it was more "north-heavy" and now looks to be more organized.

Yikes, Go Away Rita!!!!

[dirtboy]

Rita is now a Cat 1 and hasn't yet reached where Katrina entered the gulf.

Rita also hoovered a lot of the heat out of the Gulf. As a result, SSTs are not as high as when Rita was bombing out.

However, IMO the difference will not keep Rita from being a very problematic storm - IMO Rita will probably reach peak intensity as a low Cat 4 and make landfall as a Cat 3 - and have a long fetch with which to push surge at wherever she makes landfall.

But that's just my guess.

[laz]

After viewing the sattellite image this morning, I notice the storm is more symmetrical. Yesterday it was more "north-heavy" and now looks to be more organized.

Yes. She's a late bloomer, but she seems to be blooming quickly. Looks like she got jump-started over the past hour.

[silentknight]

Lots of images here

http://www5.wright-weather.com/bb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49127

[No Blue States]

"Looks at least like DFW could get some rain from Rita. We need it."

On that track we might make up for that 8" deficit in one day.

[gpapa]

Buoy SMKF1 29.64 (falling rapidly) 38 kts NNE30true A78.1 W84.9 T2.22ft

[Sam Cree]

Gas is always cheaper in Key Largo/Islamorada than the Perrine area, where I live. I never can get over it.

Thanks for letting us know what's going on down in the Keys, have some interests there, great to have the reports. Best of luck to you.

[NautiNurse]

[TXBSAFH]

In June 2001, in Pasadena TX, we got 25" of rain in one night from TS Alison. Becareful on what you wish for you may get it.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

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

Well then, quit thinking......... ;^)

[RDTF]

Check out what the Navy predicts - dead on hit at Palacios


http://www.nlmoc.navy.mil/center/Tropical/wtnt02.gif

http://www.nlmoc.navy.mil/cgi-bin/main.pl?tropical

[hobson]

Harris County has a nifty little tracking chart. You can view it online or download and install the program. The download version has more features.

http://www.hcfcd.org/hurricanetracker.html#

[rodguy911]

I know exactly what you are talking about we have the same problems over her all part of living in the union of Soviet Socialists islands, aka the Keys. Trees, bugs, deer, more important than people.

[SE Mom]

Jeb is on now.

[laz]

Gas is always cheaper in Key Largo/Islamorada than the Perrine area, where I live

Perrine? I'm just south of you, in Cutler Ridge. Near Caribbean Blvd. and the turnpike.

[Chasaway]

Hmmm...right about where Claudette went in in '03.

[Trust but Verify]

Well if you're being technical, nobody but God knows this, but the forecasters are all saying the conditions do not favor a Cat 4 or 5 storm.