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

[Lemondropkid31]

Ok. I just filled up three containers. What happens if pipes burst and toilets overflow?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

eyewall cycling and getting dryer air currents in from land help if you catch the right moment.

But what's going to hurt is the waters its going over are very, very warm...

[No Blue States]

"Do any weather people here know of anything that might take the steam out of this thing?"

From what I hear either dry air, cool water, or an eye replacement cycle could knock her down a Catagory.

[sheikdetailfeather]

My nephew told me he made a trip to Texas one time and drove back to Florida still able to hear an AM radio station out of San Antonio. He does not remember the station but said they must have a station there which is powerful.

[Republican Red]

I happened upon a report on NBC yesterday about Texas High School Football and the brewing "scandal" in relation to Katrina victims.

It was quite silly.

The report highlighted two black inner city utes from NO. They were now playing high school football on a Texas team. I thought the report was going to be how there was in-team fighting between TX an NO students or something to that effect. Instead they reported on how these two kids whose high school team never even had equipment now had new helmets, cool uniforms and played before 12,000 people on Friday Nights. The two kids were happy, thankful and their one dream was to be a Texas Longhorn.

NBC's scandal was that the football coaches moved too quickly to get the NO kids on their teams. The scandal was also that the kids had no desire to return to NO or go to LSU.

Evil TEXAS!

[texas_brewer]

Ok then lets have welch and maybe celtic hurricane names. I'd like to see the news stations pronouncing these:
Hurricane Blodeuwedd
Hurricane MEADGHBH, NANTOSUELTA, Seasaidh

[NautiNurse]

What time did they call her a 4?

Approximately 37 seconds after your head hit the pillow.

[IN Farm Girl]

I know it won't help anyone in this current storm, but I got my Grundig radio from Cabela's (www.cabelas.com) for 39.99 plus tax and shipping. It has come in very handy during the two or three tornado warnings we have had this past summer.

Here's a link to the model I bought:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0019205&type=pod&cmCat=catfeat

[Lemondropkid31]

"Don't forget that your hot water heater is a source for emergency water after the storm. If you need to "tap" it, be sure to turn off the cold water feed valve so that it does not get contaminated and also be sure to turn off the breaker in case power gets restored first. You can get the water from the drain valve at the bottom and therefore it is good prep to flush it out now since most people don't do that on a regular basis, if ever."

Interesting Idea. I never thought of that.

[RDTF]

FYI - For those that want to know-
Specter had to suspend the Able Danger hearing because the DOD stonewalled and sent in a guy that could only say 'I don't know". It was bad. Sheesh.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488396/posts?page=312#312

[BureaucratusMaximus]

LOL See tagline:

[No Blue States]

Texas Map:

http://uweb.txstate.edu/~LH1150/ex6map.gif

Abiline, Stephenville, Brownwood, Killen, and other cities could also be used for lodging.

[Spktyr]

You need at least one gallon of water per person or small animal per day, more if you intend to be physically active. The rule used to be have enough for three days - I'd have enough for a week or more now. This one's *big*.

Pipes shouldn't burst. If the water cuts off, go dig a latrine outside, away from your home.

[Lemondropkid31]

"Hello Texans! My Mom and Dad live near Conroe. What are the officials telling the residents near there? Anyone leaving??? thx..."

Nope. The closest to leaving is the low lying areas of Houston.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Push comes to shove - you can always dig a temporary latrine/trench.

[james_f_hall]

Katrina exploded one night. It was a CAT2 then upped to a CAT3. Then the guy gotthis somber look on his face when it bacme a CAT4. I went to slep and woke up and it was a CAT5.

This storm has intensified very very rapidly. Yesterday it was a TS. Today it is a CAT5. Amazing. I am well inland but still going to make some preparations.

[SE Mom]

Yeah...I kinda like :
Hurricane ScreamingEagleMom:)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I was a Girl Scout for many years and have a "be prepared" or at least a "survival" mentality. I love this book: The SAS Survival Handbook
A complete course in how to survive outdoors, on land or sea, in any weather, in any part of the world.

[Spktyr]

The first two we don't have. Lots of humid air camped out over and near Texas, and the part of the Gulf where this thing is going is warm.

[Lemondropkid31]

I think I have enough for about 3 days. My cat doesn't drink much, and I don't plan on moving around much if I am still here.