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Locked on 09/23/2005 9:43:13 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
Part VI: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1490045/posts |
Posted on 09/22/2005 5:44:09 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Extremely dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita continues to move toward landfall along the northwest Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations continue across Texas and Louisiana coastal areas. Lake Charles LA is providing evacuations by bus for residents who have no transportation.
Traffic gridlock in the greater Houston area was compounded by gasoline stations without fuel, long lines at those stations still carrying fuel, and record breaking temperatures on the first day of autumn.
Offshore drilling platforms and rigs, as well as oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants are in the path of the storm. Wave heights recorded by buoy have exceeded 38 feet. The refineries threatened by Hurricane Rita are on higher ground than those affected by flooding from Katrina. As a result, speculation abounds regarding future prices for winter heating fuel and gasoline.
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
KPLC-TV Lake Charles KPLC Streaming
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 IV
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18
Prayers to you and yours for safety from the storm.
I don't know where you are located, but my family coming from Surfside this evening got out easily once they got gas...from Beach Bait and Tackle in Surfside...which will be open all night and as long as he can into tomorrow. He also has some supplies. I expect them to arrive here in Harlingen any time now. They called from Refugio and said traffic had been much better than they ever expected.
Hope you get some much needed rest and stay safe!
Pleasure Pier Galveston 12:13AM 9/24, 1:35AM 9/25
Sabine Pass 12:34AM 9/24, 2:21AM 9/25
That sounds right for tropical storm force winds to reach the coast, but official landfall is when the center of the eye passes the shoreline.
Do you have the Saturday later-morning tides?
Morning, haven't you been to bed yet?
If Katrina hits Galveston/Houston dead on, I think I will get the tinfoil hat out and start actually listening to the Art Bell types claiming the Russians can steer these beasts !
Galveston Pleasure Pier High Tide 2.5ft 12:13AM Low Tide 0.2ft 3:52PM
Sabine Pass High Tide 1.8ft 12:24AM Low Tide 0.2ft 4:16PM
Thank you!
Typo for Sabine Pass - High tide is 12:34AM
Can't happen!! LOL!
Yes, dear. Slept fitfully, got some work done, and now ready for my second cup of coffee.
Channel 2 reporting an estimated 5000 residents did not evac Galveston.
A friend of mine that lives somewhere in the southwestern metro Houston area said the same thing. He tried to get out eastbound through Louisiana, heading for relatives in Florida, and said that every town they stopped in along I-10 was being evacuated. So eventually he and his father said "the hell with it" and turned around and drove back. They're riding it out on high ground so they think they'll be OK, considering where they are I hope they're right.
}:-)4
They'd better be scoping out some tall buildings..
Last call for tide info before I close the nifty program.
Same here. Last time I spoke to Judy and Ralph, Eric was still caught in traffic. Truck in front of him had run out of gas and he was pushing him. I don't remember what time it was.
There still is not a tight model consensus for landfall.
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