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Locked on 09/22/2005 3:40:46 AM PDT by Jim Robinson, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1489163/posts |
Posted on 09/21/2005 4:19:11 PM PDT by 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
Katrina ran into the cooler waters dumped from the Mississippi River. There is NOT a big river to chill Rita as she barrels into Texas.
Did they clear out some cells for the evacuees???? lol
Actually, I wonder if there is a jail on Galveston or thereabouts that is having to be evacuated???
I heard up here, there are two shelters in Tarrant County area (Ft. Worth)..in Burleson Community Center or something, and an unused jail...lol
WHOA that Great Lakes jobber heading for our house.
mc
There's basically nothing to turn Rita for a while. I see why some are thinking she might get blocked in and stall over Texas. Meanwhile, I see the forward motion is down a bit. Interesting (noted, but I have no theories).
No, but they do seem to like canals, rivers, and that sort of thing...
Tip, if you're counting cyclones.
how much longer will Rita be over the deep trough?
Once she clears that area, I don't think she'll strengthen any more do you?
the best time to leave would probably be about 0400 AM, when traffic will be the lightest.
LOL---Not if it is the Dallas Cowboy kicker...sigh...
NHC predicting strengthing to 180 mph within the next 12 hours, and that it will "slow" down to 155 mph, still a Category 5, at landfall..
Incredible!
That may give the people more time to get out, but if he doesnt speed up after it hits they are going to have to put up with F3 force winds for a long time.
Good for reducing the strength but increase the chance of flooding.
BTW, while I'm thinking about it... That's a really cool thing you did by offering your home for people to stay. For the hundredth time, I'm sorry for my comments years ago. I was wrong.
It's down to 9 MPH now.
I really like Khristine...
but, actually for explaining things, Steve McCauley on Channel 8, is the best...he gets really excited about what is happening and explains it in layman's terms..
ONE box of Little Debbies? That's just enough to make you angry. Good thing you've got beer and ammo to calm you down.
Bastardi throws around the term "worried" left and right, so it's making a pseudo-forecast without actually making a forecast; if the "worry" happens, then he'll brag about having "called" it, if it doesn't happen, well, he wasn't actually FORECASTING something, he was just WORRYING about it, and nobody really remembers.
Bastardi has been "worried" this year about such things as:
1) Dennis hitting New Orleans
2) Ophelia entering the Gulf of Mexico
As a couple of examples.
Where did you hear that?
Contraflow will be implemented soon. It's already been implemented on some highways, just not 10 or 45 because of vehicles coming in to get people out.
Your dingbat gov kept turning contraflow on and off as she remembered and forgot about people trying to get in to get people out.
Happy Birthday!!!!!
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