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

[No Blue States]

Does your faith need a jumpstart right now?

Have an interview with God:

http://www.reata.org/interview2.html

:)

[tryingtomakesenseofthis]

Does anyone have a link to a map of the hurricane track on Texas where the name of the cities and towns are also posted. It's hard to tell where in the path some of my family and friends are. I'd also like to see where on the path the towns they are evacuating to are.

I'm sure they will be safe, but I'm hoping they have a home to go back to.

Thanks.

[RDTF]

Ah I see - it's different - but memphis minnie is credited on both

[CedarDave]

18Z GFDL has followed the NGP and GFS North; NGP and GFDL both landfall in the precise location of the 1900 storm, GFS a tad more N directly up Galveston Bay.

Are you saying the new model runs have landfall moving north of the Matagorda Bay area to the Freeport/South Galveston Island area?

My God!

[Howlin]

Is there an online link to that?

[mewzilla]

Good list. If I might add: And get any meds anyone might need.

[Termite_Commander]

Thanks for keeping these threads going, Nauti.

[bonfire]

Been gone all day and got home to a CAT 5. Holy Moly. Gives me chills.

[TypeZoNegative]

You guys aren't the only ones getting hammered with bad weather. September 21rst and we're getting tornadoes in the Twin Cities area.

[NautiNurse]

Great to see you back! Missed you.

[bonfire]

Which way is your bad weather headed? I'm in NE Ohio.
Stay safe.

[Heatseeker]

Check out the KPRC co-anchor! ;)

[stlnative]

Just reported on MSNBC: Rita got bigger today -- and so did the hurricane.

Shame on you! (LMAO)

[don-o]

Dude! That is a mother of a squall line!

Love your tag! (Don't tell anyone, but the Southern Applachians is the place to be. Upper East Tenn / Western NC)

[Txsleuth]

I just got home from driving from my daughter's house in Lake Worth area...

Those humongous overhead signs on E. Loop 820 S had messages with phone #'s for anyone looking for shelter...

I couldn't copy 1 number down, since I was driving..and by myself...but it did also say to call 211 for information..

So...anyone driving in the DFW area, looking for shelter...you will find numbers in the overhead traffic signs on the freeways..

Also, sinkspur...I saw the good motels with full parking lots, but the "NO TELL" motels on E.Loop 820 by Berry ST?
Empty parking lots....LOL

I guess though, they would be better than nothing, right?

[Lunkhead_01]

One should never hesitate to tell the truth -- and both parts of my statement are true.

[greyfoxx39]

You have been doing a fantastic job on FR of late. Thank you.

[Delta Dawn]

There are 72 virgins in the state for Lovers?

[AmericanMade1776]

To all our Texas Freepers.... Hope you ride this one out safely! Keep you in my prayers.

[TxWxguy]

Mike,

Is that a proprietary map(ie...forecast models) of yours or is it available online somewhere?

thanks