Update: Category 5 Hurricane Rita - Live Thread, Part II

NHC - NOAA ^ | 21 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Category 3 Hurricane Rita became the fifth major hurricane of the 2005 season during the night. Hurricane Rita threaded the needle through the Florida Straits and moved into the Gulf of Mexico. Storm damage in the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula was light, with scattered power outages, scattered tornados, and mild to moderate flooding.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Galveston County TX and New Orleans. Additional evacuation orders in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area are anticipated throughout the day.

Crude oil prices reacted as oil producers shut down and evacuated workers from platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

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 Eastern Gulf of Mexico
Buoy Data Western Gulf of Mexico
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
GOM WV Loop
GOM IR Still Image
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA

Additional Resources:

Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
Hurricane City
Wxnation Houston

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:
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[myprecious]

no hotels/motels anywhere

Try looking for "cabins" around the big lakes of Texas. These are mom and pop operations that take a good-sized storage shed and outfit it to a cabin. There is usually a little kitchen, bed, and pull out couch. Not fancy, but a family could set up for a few days. Usually around $50/night

Lake Fork near me is hosting a major bass tournament, so do not look in this area. Try Cedar Creek Lake, Tawakoni Lake, Texoma Lake, Lake Palastine, Possum Kingdom Lake, and others. Google for Bass fishing accommodations Texas.

[Termite_Commander]

Note they reported a stadium effect inside the eye. That's a sign of a very mature or intense hurricane. It shouldn't hold this kind of strength for too much longer.

[james_f_hall]

Nothing yet. They are telling people to stay tuned for updates though.

[NautiNurse]

The models are definitely converging. Thanks for posting this reduced-size graphic. Much appreciated.

[mjwise]

923mb!? My god is this a record for pressure drop?? This thing is shedding millibars like I've never seen before -- for perspective the 11AM estimated pressure was 944mb! This thing is angling to outdo Katrina.

[SE Mom]

OMG..922..whew.

[texas_brewer]

This is good advice. I am going to write my girls (age 2 and 6) names and a phone number on them with a sharpie if it gets to that point.

[james_f_hall]

you expect ERC then?

[RDTF]

No room at the inn? Maybe someone has an extra stable with 3 wise men :-)

[glock rocks]

or you could try this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488480/posts?page=978#978

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Stick (wood frame) homes = 110 mph wind rating

Cement block homes = 120 mph wind rating

ICF homes = 210 mph wind rating

http://www.titanwalls.com

[Termite_Commander]

I think Hurricane Gilbert still has Rita beat, but she's certainly giving that record a run for its money at this point!

[SE Mom]

What are you basing your opinion on? What conditions do you see that will make it weaken?

[No Blue States]

The forecast shows we should start seeing that NW movement soon. Hopefully it will never materialize, but the NHC is very good.

Rita should cross the intersection of 25N and 95W at 7am.
If she crosses south of that at 7am that must be good for Galveston. (worse for Corpus)

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/145605.shtml?5day

[Jrabbit]

Thanks....I'm at a loss about what to do. I can't get through to her. I don't know if she's trying to contact me. sigh

[NautiNurse]

891
URNT12 KNHC 211728
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 21/17:02:40Z
B. 24 deg 12 min N
085 deg 56 min W
C. NA mb NA m
D. NA kt
E. deg nm
F. 142 deg 142 kt
G. 036 deg 013 nm
H. 923 mb
I. 12 C/ 2447 m
J. 26 C/ 2436 m
K. 10 C/ NA
L. CLOSED
M. STADIUM
N. 12345/NA
O. 0.02 / nm
P. AF306 WXWXA 05092114306 OB 02
MAX FL WIND 142 KT NE QUAD 16:58:40 Z

[cassie_dc]

Glad your dad evacuated. My 87 year old father FINALLy agreed to leave this morning from the Friendswood area, after much persuasion! He's headed to Nacogdoches with the rest of the family. My hubby and I live in Spring, and we are sitting in the airport right now waiting to board a plane for Albuquerque (a pre-planned business meeting). We put things away as best we can. It will be very hard to concentrate on business out there though. This is my hometown. Prayers for all!

[Rheo]

Get your behind to Austin... Jaded, you and your mom can have my apartment...it's a 1 br and an aerobed. I'll leave you lots of chocolate! (I'll be nearby)

[WoodstockCat]

is there a a chart with direct correlation between pressure and wind speed?
In other words, is it possible to have a really low pressure storm but relatively weak winds?

[james_f_hall]

Jim Cantore was talking last night about it making a more westerly track than the models were predicting, then it would veer north and possibly ride the coast up into Freeport.