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

[NautiNurse]

Per usual, do not post graphics >50KB.
Do not post webcams or satellite loops. Use links instead. This is a high traffic thread.

[MamaB]

Thanks for your hard work.

[NautiNurse]

New Thread

[grey_whiskers]

Hi Folks,

Glad to see Texas has it more together as far as Evacs.

Prayers that prayers won't be needed, if you catch my drift.

Cheers!

[cgk]

Ditto!

[DallasMike]

Here's the latest strike map. The majority of the models are converging between Corpus Christi and Houston. For those of us in Texas, that means that everything inward from Wichita Falls, through Dallas and Fort Worth, and to far East Texas can expect major winds, heavy rains, and possible tornados.

 

 

 

[DouglasKC]

What's the record low barometric pressure for a hurricane? BTW, thanks for these threads. I lurk quite a bit trying to catch up on information.

[woofie]

my advice: run!

[MamaB]

Is anyone watching that judge on WHOU? He is begging for ambulances and troopers.

[RoseofTexas]

Forgive me for saying this, but I'm praying that either the hurricane subsides or that it make a sharp turn left towards Mexico...I don't want my state to end up like N.O. I have family and friends there!

[alancarp]

Latest recon report: 904 mb. Now ranks in the TOP FIVE of all-time since keeping records... (Gilbert @ 888mb, 1935 Labor Day 'Cane, Allen, Katrina (902)).

[onyx]

That's quite a stunning post. Thanks Mike.

[La Enchiladita]

Presidential Prayer Team Urges Prayer re path of hurricane "Rita." http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488886/posts

[fishntex]

I am sure it has been said before but it cannot hurt.


Let us pray for those in the path of this storm.

[DouglasKC]

Latest recon report: 904 mb. Now ranks in the TOP FIVE of all-time since keeping records... (Gilbert @ 888mb, 1935 Labor Day 'Cane, Allen, Katrina (902)).

Thanks for the information.

[fishntex]

Here here!

[Textide]

Posting Beatles' lyrics since I was not specifically told not to...:D

Lovely Rita meter maid
nothing can come between us
When it gets dark I tow your heart away

Standing by a parking meter
when I caught a glimpse of Rita
Filling in a ticket in her little white book
In a cap she looked much older
And the bag across her shoulder
Made her look a little like a military man

Lovely Rita meter maid
may I inquire discreetly
When are you free to take some tea with me

Took her out and tried to win her
had a laugh and over dinner
Told her I would really like to see her again
Got the bill and Rita paid it
Took her home and nearly made it
Sitting on a sofa with a sister or two

Lovely Rita meter maid
where would I be without you
give us a wink and make me think of you

Lovely meter maid
Rita meter maid
oh, Lovely Rita meter, meter maid

[NautiNurse]

I managed to get that info into the header of this thread...along with the fact that Galveston uses school buses for evacuations.

[La Enchiladita]

I'm with you, Rose! Amen!