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

[tobyhill]

I hope this wipes out every oil rig and refinery on the coast. In the short term it would mean $10 a gallon but it could in the long run force eco-twirps and gas producers to get together and build new refineries. The economy is already shot with this new breed of spend what you don't have "conservatives".

[Dog Gone]

They are saying it's about 15 miles north of the NHC track already, which, all other things being equal at this distance, translates to a 100 mile shift (northeastward) up the coast. It's potentially a big deal.

That would be a very big deal to me. That would put me on the western side of the eye, but would move the forecast track directly into Galveston Bay.

[No Blue States]

I had to correct a typo in it. Great idea Dane. Now isnt the time for politics but its the truth.

[momf]

I just checked on a reservation at Killeen (because of VA appointments) and she said everything was booked from there through Oklahoma. Don't know if that's just Holiday Inns or really everything. For anyone who doesn't have relatives or a reservation, don't forget the state parks if you have an RV; also, some of them have furnished cottages and screened shelters. When we were camp hosting at the SP in Texas we had several escapees from nasty gulf weather staying - even some in just their car with sleeping bags on the ground. But they had reduced/free rates. Something to consider if you need it.

[laz]

That's the crazy thing - this storm is growing so quickly that Florida is still getting hit with heavy outer bands!

Those outer bands still extend past Florida and into the Bahamas. I know it's impossible, but can you imagine a Tip-sized hurricane in GOM? One that affects Florida and Texas simultaneously?

[steveegg]

Post 2039 was meant for you, not me.

2,038 posted on 09/21/2005 4:17:36 PM CDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

Clairvoiant, or a typo? :-)

[sinkspur]

I hope this wipes out every oil rig and refinery on the coast.

You're an idiot. Time for your afternoon glass of Metamucil.

[tiki]

No, just a farm so we have lots of room. But I will say that we live in a very wonderful area of the country with no extreme weather to speak of.

[Sprite518]

I hope that forecast is correct. Even if it comes down a little it will still be very devastating...

[Ditter]

Hi Howlin. We are staying here in Houston. We are about 2 miles west of the west loop on high ground, relatively high, we don't flood. Our house is 50 year old brick and in good shape. We do have huge trees that could come thru the roof. I dread the days or weeks without A/c afterwards. Aaaarrrrrgggggggg!

[steveegg]

The 908 mb pressure was from a dropsonde in the eye. The 914 mb pressure was extrapolated at a later time, which I guess is why NHC is using that number in their advisory.

Which means, if the extrapolation is right, Rita may just have turned a corner (definitely not THE corner, but I can hope).

[Spktyr]

Because we still have 48 hours before this thing makes landfall and people are still coming in to help friends and family get *out*. It should go contraflow (if traffic dictates) in about 36 hours.

[hummingbird]

I can't even watch the animals or the people who had to give up their pets. Not everyone feels the same about animal rescue but being petowners, we always take our pets into consideration when making plans. More people would have left LA if they could have taken their pets; I saw some of them on Fox being interviewed. Galveston mayor said small animals could be evacuated on the buses (with crates, I think) but horses, cows, etc. will have to ride it out if they haven't already been moved.

[dakine]

Let me ask one of the experts:

It is estimated that each level causes about 10 times as much damage as the one previous. This means that a Cat 5 is 10,000 times as damaging as a Cat 1.

Str: Is this the measurments?

[NautiNurse]

I hope this wipes out every oil rig and refinery on the coast.

Ummmm...I disagree, for a lot of reasons that are less impetuous than your rationale.

[Howlin]

Stay safe and let somebody know if you're safe or not.

If I recall correctly, you have a lot of "camping gear," don't you?

[buickmackane]

Welcome, I'm glad you decided to stop lurking. I wish you safety during the storm!

[NautiNurse]

Clairvoiant, or a typo? :-)

yes

[carinafox5]

Firstly, thanks all for the responses. I really do appreciate your opinions. I don't plan on going until we hear more from local weather etc.. and it won't be until Friday in all probabilty. But I just wanted a bit of reassurance that I am not being silly to want to get out of this house (or well disguised shack as I call it..don't get me wrong it's a nice palm harbor..but that's just it.. it is still a mobile)

dirtboy: I am not near a hospital etc.. but where I plan to go is in Round Rock, really close to Round Rock Medical Center. I have two options.. a one story house- brick.. or a 3-story apt. building on the first floor(sister's place). My infant is ok healthwise.. he sweats in our house with the AC on 74 though lol.. so if we lose power.. he will be miserable. He does have 2 holes in his heart etc.. and a possible blood sugar problem, as he is almost 30 lbs at 3 months his doctor is looking into this.. (scary I know! he's a gigantic baby lol)

oceanview: the big difference.. if there is alot of wind.. which I stated in my previous post.. this place can't take more than 75mph like I sat through once before here.. there was alot of damage and it was scary as hell.. and never wanna do that again in a manufactured home.. Where I am going... BRICK building.. where I am now.. on 4 hidden blocks.. not made of anything too strong..and not anchored etc... 2,000sq foot manufactured home that is 10yrs old or so. And not sturdy at all.. And if there is possibility of tornadoes.. I'd rather be in a brick place than here.. That is why it would be better (IMO correct me if I am wrong).. and there is no structure here to go to for safety if needed. They keep the only brick building here in the complex locked when not in use for parties. I asked them this many times if they'd consider opening it for storm purposes.. Also where we are power goes out in tiniest of storms. Put yourself in my shoes.. what would you do?? Or perhaps you think I am as paranoid as my husband thinks I am ;^)