Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III

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

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous and large Category Five Hurricane Rita is churning westward across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Air Force Reconnaissance indicated the central pressure has dropped to 904mb, making Rita the fifth most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin.

Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from Northern Mexico through the South Louisiana coastline. Galveston TX used school buses to evacuate residents. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in effect along the Texas coastline.

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 Western Gulf of Mexico
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana

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

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

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

Additional Resources:

FReeper Sign In Thread Check in to let us know whether you are staying, going, and when you get there
FReepers Offering Lodging To Rita Evacuees People and/or Pet Friendly FReepers Offering Shelter
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
Hurricane City
Wxnation Houston
Galveston Webcams
Golden Triangle Weather Page Provides Galveston Weather, Warnings, Radar, etc.

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

[SE Mom]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488925/posts

Breaking -Emergency landing Jet Blue plane in Burbank CA -landing gear is shot- pilot dumping fuel.

[blam]

See those clouds in your post #75 over Mobile Bay...those are the first clouds I've seen since Katrina...bone dry here.

[MamaB]

Your post made DU.

[RDTF]

They are showing it live on Fox

[Lunkhead_01]

Do you doubt Rita is a Virginian virgin?

[TomB]

Although it's completely off-topic...keep in mind how much China NEEDS the U.S.- whether we, or they, like it or not.

I guess since the point (however weak) was brought up, it isn't wrong to respond. Especially with a succinct and cogent point as yours.

You are correct. China starts a war, we stop buying their stuff, they die economically.

[steveegg]

That stuff is sliding almost due east at the moment, but they're talking about the storms hitting the Milwaukee area, with the possibility of them still being severe, sometime after 1 am.

[don-o]

Your post made DU.

Well, isn't that special for FC?

[KingKongCobra]

No live coverage that I can find at www.khou.com

[Amityschild]

It looks lots of rain for us in Oklahoma City.

Since this is La Tornado Alley...what is the likelihood of some of them coming from Rita? I'm in Tulsa....

[Lazamataz]

It is mind boggling to me that two Cat-5 storms -- of which we have only seen three IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MODERN METEOROLOGY -- have occured in such a way as to strike the US in under thirty days.

Something very peculiar is going on.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks...this hurricane season just can't end fast enough for me.

[Amityschild]

Amen!

[steveegg]

TWC - Rita's gone under 899 mb. The 7 pm CDT advisory should be out shortly.

[Bahbah]

Something very peculiar is going on.

I attribute this to the failure to elect you Pope. What else COULD it be?

[Lorraine]

Completely agree with CindyDawg. Please go the hospital to be with your wife, Dog Gone. I know someone who is married to a doctor that has to stay during hurricanes. She goes and stays at the hospital. I understand how you can't evacuate and leave her behind, but I think you will both be much better off if you are at least in the same place. Put your pets in the car and just go! If the hospital administrative staff are foolish enough to send you away, then she should leave and go with you. I understand why you wouldn't want to leave her behind, but think how she will feel if you stay because of her and something happens to you.

[NautiNurse]

I thought last hurricane season was awful. This one is simply horrific.

[SE Mom]

I just clicked onto TWC to hear Dr Steve Lyons say it has gone below 900- it's around 890 something...he's shaking his head- this is right next to Gilbert.

[Howlin]

Are you staying?

[Delta Dawn]

Their motto was:

Virginia is for Lovers