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

[Alia]

I heard about the show based on the book. From what I've read -- true -- he didn't warn others. But ***why** he didn't is the most interesting part. It's told in context by the author. Politics played a large factor in that decision.

[Sprite518]

Airbus on Foxnews is dumping fuel, and trying to land.. Gear may be twisted..Jetblue...

BTW, just before I heard Shep say the Hurricane wind speed is 185MPH...

[RikaStrom]

I'm heading your way tomorrow morning, but heading back on Sunday. Maybe I can be in the storm only a little while. (wishful thinking)

[Pearls Before Swine]

Are those tomorrow's numbers or today's?

[philo]

http://www.thedevilsmusic.net/lyrics/joe_mccoy.html C'mon play the original!

[RDTF]

They also go into that in the show. My guess is it would be playing soon (relevance) - Give me a minute and I'll look it up

[LA Woman3]

I have a friend who lives in The Woodlands. She has a swimming pool....any advice on preparations??

[Miss Marple]

Text of my message to CNN:

I support President Bush. You may go pound sand.

[KingKongCobra]

I tuned to KHOU about 4 hours ago. They're doing a great job and Dr. Neil Frank is still the hurricane guru.

[Howlin]

Charge your cell phone.

Have a landline phone.

Fill up your cars.

Fill up tubs with water.

Move ALL objects outside that can "fly."

Get lots of CASH.

[proud_yank]

I can hear the screams now, 'Texas was evacuated because its Bush's home state, and theres not as many blacks there' or something along those lines!

[pollyg107]

I don't know why you say Houston is a city worth keeping "unlike New Orleans". I have many dear friends from both of those cities. It really hurts to read such comments.

[RDTF]

How's they get credit for writing it? Hmmm

[samadams2000]

How's that. Thanks Ill go with it for a while.

[TomGuy]

Rita has a certain beauty and a certain fierceness:

[cksharks]

bfl

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I don't believe it's going to curve up as thought regardless of the high pressure system. More than likely, it will hit below Corpus and at most may severely impact Victoria, Texas. So stated this day, Sep. 21, at 6:42 p.m.

[CindyDawg]

The house can be re-built. Maybe you can send the pets out with someone? Some hospitals even make a kennel area for staff pets. Your wife might get an ok to put them in an office or something by agreeing to stay. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

[NautiNurse]

The sunset visible pics are always amazing.

[RummyChick]

Can't stand Rita My Sources Cosby. Glad she left fox.