Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

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

looks like the Superstition MTS in Arizona

Those little things? Well, they are kinda cute, I guess. ;-)

1,681 posted on 09/23/2005 1:18:59 AM PDT by Colorado Doug (Diversity is divisive. E. Pluribus Unum)

Thx. This was our planned route though I do not think we will need it now.

1,682 posted on 09/23/2005 1:20:50 AM PDT by Jalapeno

To: justa-hairyape

Now that we know mars is also warming

Mars is warming? Dang, those silly Martians must have failed to sign Kyoto too. I sure hope they've got levees along those canals.

1,683 posted on 09/23/2005 1:23:22 AM PDT by laz (They can bus 'em to the polls, but they can't bus 'em out of the path of a Cat 5 hurricane.)

1,684 posted on 09/23/2005 1:23:54 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

You mean this is not a planet of apes ?

Sure could have fooled me.

1,685 posted on 09/23/2005 1:24:24 AM PDT by justa-hairyape

elevation 5000-6000 ft

That's just a bump. ;-)

1,686 posted on 09/23/2005 1:25:47 AM PDT by Colorado Doug (Diversity is divisive. E. Pluribus Unum)

Mars is warming? Dang, those silly Martians must have failed to sign Kyoto too. I sure hope they've got levees along those canals.

And we also know what happens to a planet that receives more radiation (light) then the earth receives. Just look at Venus. The inverse square law states that it receives more light per surface area.

1,687 posted on 09/23/2005 1:27:19 AM PDT by justa-hairyape

Since we decided to hunker down and weather the storm the puter has been stuck on this thread and being monitored continuously.

1,688 posted on 09/23/2005 1:32:40 AM PDT by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))

stuck on this thread and being monitored continuously.

You are doing a fine job too

1,689 posted on 09/23/2005 1:34:03 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

You have no idea the great service you are proving, thank you.

1,690 posted on 09/23/2005 1:35:32 AM PDT by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))

proving=providing, time to get some sleep after the 4 am update.

1,691 posted on 09/23/2005 1:37:40 AM PDT by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))

To: justa-hairyape

Yes, sunspot activity has been getting more frequent and powerful. I wonder whether warming oceans also lend to more frequent methane blowouts on the oceans' floors. Here's a site where anyone can get free notifications in advance of Auroras and information on increasing sun activity (even after the more intense part the cycle). ...took some photos of a great Aurora a couple of years ago, thanks to the newsletter.

Geomagnetic News - Auroral Activity
http://borealis2000.com/news.html

1,692 posted on 09/23/2005 1:44:05 AM PDT by familyop ("Let us try" sounds better, don't you think? "Essayons" is so...Latin.)

You are very welcome. Those of us in hurricane alley look out
for each other.

1,693 posted on 09/23/2005 1:46:16 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

We may have a pleasant surprise with the latest update. Saw pressure was up earlier.

1,694 posted on 09/23/2005 1:47:35 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

I hope you don't have to evacuate, too!
But if you do, you should have an easier time than those now stuck in traffic. Come on south, there's plenty of room at the inns. Edinburg has a shelter open, too.

I've turned my living room into a dorm room for 6 evacuees. Just got all their beds ready. Expecting them to arrive in about an hour. I'm so happy they made it out so easily.

1,695 posted on 09/23/2005 1:50:28 AM PDT by RGVTx (Harlingen, TX 26.1-97.6)

the track is my concern.

1,696 posted on 09/23/2005 1:52:45 AM PDT by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))

Hurricane Rita Advisory Number 23
Statement as of 4:00 am CDT on September 23, 2005

 
...Extremely dangerous category four Rita moving northwestward into
the northwestern Gulf of Mexico...

A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Port O'Connor Texas to Morgan
City Louisiana. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions
are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to
completion.

 

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the southeastern coast of
Louisiana east of Morgan City to the mouth of the Pearl River
including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain....and
from south of Port O'Connor to Port Mansfield Texas.  A Tropical
Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected
within the warning area within the next 24 hours.  Some portions of
the Tropical Storm Warning in Texas could be discontinued later
today.

 
At 4 am CDT...0900z...the tropical storm watch is discontinued for
the Texas coast south of Port Mansfield and for northeastern
Mexico.

 
For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

 
At 4 am CDT...0900z...the center of Hurricane Rita was located near
latitude 26.8 north...longitude  91.0 west or about  290 miles
southeast of Galveston Texas and about  250 miles southeast of
Cameron Louisiana.

 
Rita is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph...and this general
motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.  On this
track...the core of Rita will be approaching the southwest
Louisiana and Upper Texas coasts late today or tonight.

 
Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph...with higher gusts.  Rita
is an extremely dangerous category four hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson scale.  Some fluctuations in strength are expected
during the next 24 hours.

 
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to  85 miles from the
center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 205 miles.  An automated station operated by Louisiana State
University near the southeast Louisiana coast recently reported
sustained winds of 55 mph with a gust of 65 mph at an elevation of
130 ft.

 
The minimum central pressure just reported by an Air Force Reserve
hurricane hunter aircraft is  927 mb...27.37 inches.

 
Coastal storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide
levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves...can be
expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall.
Tides are currently running about 2 feet above normal along the
Louisiana...Mississippi and Alabama coasts in the areas affected by
Katrina. Tides in those areas will increase to 3 to 5 feet and be
accompanied by large waves...and residents there could experience
coastal flooding.  Large swells generated by Rita will likely affect
most portions of the Gulf Coast.

 
Rita is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 8 to 12
inches...with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches over
southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana as it moves inland.
Since Rita is forecast to slow down significantly after making
landfall...total accumulations in excess of 25 inches are possible
over the next several days across eastern Texas and western
Louisiana.  In addition...rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are
possible over southeastern Louisiana including metropolitan New
Orleans.

Isolated tornadoes are possible today over portions of southeastern
Texas and southern Louisiana.

 
Repeating the 4 am CDT position...26.8 N... 91.0 W.  Movement
toward...northwest near 10 mph.  Maximum sustained
winds...140 mph.  Minimum central pressure... 927 mb.

 
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National
Hurricane Center at 7 am CDT followed by the next
complete advisory at 10 am CDT.

 
Forecaster Beven

1,697 posted on 09/23/2005 1:53:40 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

TV2 Just Now..

National Guard is AIRLIFTING fuel into Houston right now....

1,698 posted on 09/23/2005 1:57:45 AM PDT by tcrlaf

To: aberaussie; Alas Babylon!; Alia; alnick; Amelia; asp1; AntiGuv; Bahbah; balrog666; blam; Blennos; ..

...Extremely dangerous category four Rita moving northwestward into the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Movement toward northwest near 10 mph. Maximum sustained winds 140 mph. Minimum central pressure 927 mb.

1,699 posted on 09/23/2005 1:58:31 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

To: kalee; kayak; ken5050; kimmie7; Kretek; LA Woman3; lainie; LBKQ; Letitring; ...

...Extremely dangerous category four Rita moving northwestward into the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Movement toward northwest near 10 mph. Maximum sustained winds 140 mph. Minimum central pressure 927 mb.

1,700 posted on 09/23/2005 1:58:35 AM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

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