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

[Sally'sConcerns]

Luckily I wasn't commuting, just visiting relatives over a 48 year timeframe.

The company I worked for did have me commuting between Dallas and Indianapolis for 3 months but I didn't have to do that drive! They also transferred me and my family (lock, stock and barrel) to Austin for a grand total of 8 weeks.

[onyx]

Oh cripes. I hope y'all are spared. Most of our evacuees have returned to their homes, or to southern parts of Mississippi.... except the few from NO.

[laz]

VERY intense outer band going through that area. Tornado warning box on.

Looks like that band went through Islamorada.

[Hatteras]

"He wants you to kiss him. Do you need a prince?"

Reminds me of the old joke about the old man who finds the talking frog. The frog trying to convince the old man that she really is a beautiful young woman who would cook and clean and fulfill his wildest fantasies for the rest of his life if the old man would only give her one kiss and release her from her amphibious prison...

"At my age? I'd rather have a talking frog." he replied as he stuffed the frog into his pocket.

By the way, if the power goes out, keep the freezer door closed and if the power is out for more than a day, fire up the Kingsford Charcoal, invite the neighbors to do the same and have a feast!

[kassie]

Wow! I can't remember when our gas was that cheap.

[SE Mom]

Wow- I missed the part about the military weather forecast...wonder what they're seeing.

Better stock up sweetie.

[CajunConservative]

Frozen blocks of ice for when the power goes out and if need be drinking water, at least for the jugs and bottles. It helps to keep the contents of the freezer longer.

[MplsSteve]

I don't know if it makes a difference or not - but we have two large refineries just south of St Paul.

Maybe that has something to do with. OTOH, maybe not.

All I do is enjoy the temporary lower prices.

[CindyDawg]

I have a question for yall. Why would you anchor water heaters, refrigerators, and heavy furniture to wall studs? Is it to keep them from flying away or to support the walls. I'm reading on a "when dsaster strikes" from the National Fire Safety Council,inc. I had not heard of this before.

[Hatteras]

To keep the beer cold until the weather clears and you can get the grill started, silly.

It also helps to have water if you are on a well system that utilizes an electric pump.

[Bahbah]

Is it to keep them from flying away or to support the walls.

My best guess is that it has nothing to do wth supporting the walls. Rather, it keeps these things from ripping loose or falling over during the storm or quake. Just my guess.

[MamaB]

Never thought of the washer! Thanks.

[Chasaway]

"...To keep the beer cold until the weather clears..."

And THAT'S why it's worthwhile to acquire the taste for bourbon or scotch "neat". No need for ice.

An old survivalist trick I learned in the Boy Scouts.

[NTegraT]

I just got back from the Katy Mills Walmart and I can tell you it's worse than Christmas. Empty shelves of water, soups, camping supplies. Every shopping cart was full. They're going to have a bang up week of sales.

[Lanza]

FYI to anyone in Clear Creek School District. School is canceled for tomorrow. Check it out at ccisd.net
My son is sick and I emailed the teachers for homework, and they said school is cancelled for Wednesday,Thursday.

[Quilla]

Do you have one for a hard-working, half-blind legal secretary.

That's a tough one. How about flowers and candy?

[Jaded]

We plan on doing that too. Got the bags last night.... the only problem is the gallon and a half of Blue Bell taking up too much space..... :-(

[Overtaxed]

I got duct tape....never could get it to work on the tub. :)

[Hatteras]

That would be to secure the items you mentioned. If anything, the more you attach to your walls, the less strength they have though the difference is not worth worrying about. If you are in a high wind/hurricane zone, chances are that your wall baseplates are bolted to the floor and your rafters should have hurricane clips as an added measure.

Of course, that's probably why you see empty foundations with the wall baseplates still attached and whole roofs flying through the air during a hurricane...

[Strategerist]

that's why you don't get hurricanes between 10 North latitude and 10 South - little spin is imparted to winds that close to the Equator, even though there is lots of heat present in the oceans.

Above is largely a myth; Typhoons in the Western North Pacific and Tropical Cyclones around Australia, and in the North and South Indian Oceans, ROUTINELY form closer to the equator than 10 degrees; in fact, 4-5 degrees is not uncommon (and some storms even reach full 65 kt+ strength while still that south.)

Typhoon Vamei hit Singapore at an incredible 1.5 degrees N latitude.

Coriolis is the same all over the world, so it's not Coriolois preventing development in the Atlantic south of 10N....likely more has to do with the location of the ITCZ in the Atlantic.