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Posted on 09/22/2005 3:25:57 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane Rita continues to threaten the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. The forecast track has shifted slightly to the northeast, increasing the risk to Southwest Louisiana, and a significant portion of the oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Governor Perry is urging all coastal residents between Beaumont and Corpus Christi to evacuate as soon as possible.
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
Houston/Galveston/Beaumont/Lake Charles Wx Watches/Warnings
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana
Hi Res Houston Flood Zone Map Slow load, great detail
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)
KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
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
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
KPLC Lake Charles Evac Routes, news
KFDM Beaumont/Port Arthur News, evac info
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 III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18
My son-in-law tried to call his brother in that area all day yesterday, but the phones are already messed up.
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway...
Uh, sorry. The pic just made that pop into my head. Please don't think of that song everytime you see that picture, okay? ;-)
Probably not too wise to try to drive out since it sounds like you will be stuck in traffic.
However, I understand that the TDOT is fixing to open up both sides of IH 45 north towards Dallas. I cant confirm it, however.
Probably your best bet is to book a flight if you can. Your hubby will learn.
Humbeeeee, you are out of your everloving mind!
Thanks for the info. Sure am glad sis and her family headed north. Stay safe!
Tried to find Parker and I10 on Yahoo maps and failed. My suggestion to him would be get off the freeway and try to drive by Compass headings using what backroads lead the right? way. Good luck to him.
I had heard that was possible. Is it for sure, and where is it being played?
Good Morning Rita
http://www.usawx.com/rita800amsept22y.jpg
First outer bands are starting to show up on Louisiana radar.
She's almost out of the city going northwest. SHe'd have to go east-southeast to get to the airport, not a sure bet at all.
We just tried leaving for New Ulm and we were going to take one of the old FM roads FM 529 to be specific. It was bumper to bumper so we came back home. I can't tell you how pissed I am that TEXDOT has dropped the ball on the counterflow lanes. Houston could have been emptyed by now if they would have done it earlier.
Don't be an idiot! forget class and save yourself first! First rule of rescue is to make sure you are a rescuer, not a victim.
Watching the LA evacuation before Katrina, I saw gridlock on I-10 in both directions and any highway heading north. The smart folks headed SOUTH on the highway that bordered the Gulf and were just buzzing past the reporter on the beach. After you clear the congested part of the state, you head north and get there hours ahead of everyone else. That's what I'd do in an evacuation where you have a day or two warning. I'm surprised that Houston didn't switch to contraflow last night, and I'll bet that will be one thing that will change after this. The emergency vehicles could still be routed in using secondary roads.
Isn't that a lovely story? And the Democrats, in an ever leftward move, watch as Hillary agrees to meet with Cindy Sheehan. Fireworks!
Better yet if you have a laptop and GPS.
Gasoline will be the big problem. I wouldn't want to get stuck out in the boonies in my car in the middle of a Cat4 hurricane.
Cut that crap out
Sooner Gal, you are really close to me (290 and Spring-Cypress). We just tried getting out down 529 and it was so bad we had to turn around. We are staying until mid-afternoon with the hope that traffic will have lessened with the inital crush of evacuees.
I'm more concerned that you have Elton John songs running through your brain. :-)
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