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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
OMG I have one! What wonderful dogs! Mine is a little bit bigger than most I've seen, he weighs close to 20 lbs. His name is Max. Smartest dogs ever. I actually rescued him from the shelter in DC.
Happy Birthday!
I am hungry too. Popcorn time.
The problem is if it stalls over Austin you could get extreme, Floyd-in-NC style rainfall flooding.
Inland flooding is constantly overlooked. It's much worse than inland wind damage, kills a lot more people.
Oh yeah you know its coming...
It depends on where this bad boy lands. We will decide at 6:00 pm tomorrow if we stay or go.
The people at the weather channel seemed to say that if it is slower the people would have to withstand the winds longer. This bugger is the size of Georgia and it is going to take time to pass through an area at that forward speed.
Poor kid doesn't stand a chance.
Andrew and Charley strengthened right before landfall. It's not a given that a storm will weaken going into landfall. High-profile Ivan and Katrina did, so it seems a few people are taking that as some kind of rule. It's not.
IN NORTH TEXAS AS THE STORM APPROACHES WE EXPECT THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS:
6-10" of rain along and east of I35, more possible.
Flash flooding. Over a foot of rain if Rita stalls.
Strong winds 40 to 60mph sustanined.
Interuptions in power service.
A few tornadoes, especially east of I35.
Travel problems increased traffic and wet roads, airline delays.
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/tx/special.html
Intensity that far out has been off by quite a bit. Also, landfall is expected between 6 am and 2 pm Friday, while the last at-sea intensity forecast is 7 pm Thursday. Still looks like a Cat 4 though.
My girlfriend suggested one of those hurricane planes drop General Honore into the storm so he can give it some whoop arse. I told her 'Don't get stuck on stupid,' and thus will be Freeping the rest of the night---alone.
So what did Texas do?
they are reporting here in Houston it will slow to stong cat3 by landfall
There have been stronger typhoons in the Pacific... Those waters are as warm as Gulf waters, and there is a 4,000 mile stretch of warm water for Typhoons to go over.
they are reporting here in Houston it will slow to stong cat3 by landfall
Where is the Katrina WHOA reporter? I think his name was Harrigan? Who is going to Galveston to report?
I have no idea what DFW homeowners do...I would love to know.
I have no idea what DFW homeowners do...I would love to know.
"Tell me, Mr. President, what noble cause are my oak and maple leaves sacrificing themselves for?? It's all about the oil, isn't it Mr.President?" - Ms. Windy Cindy Sheees-gone-nuts-han
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