Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[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

[dandelion]

I'm so sorry. I hope you will be safe in your refuge. The Red Cross is supposed to be opening refuges along I-45, but I pray they won't really be needed...

[Lanza]

So are you staying in town too SE Mom? I don't have time to read all the posts. Grilling steaks and making food to take to Grannys.

My neighborhood is a ghost town!

[ekwd]

Just how strong was Alicia? What you are doing is betting that Rita won't do anywhere near as much damage as Katrina did 60 miles inland in Mississippi. Even if all you suffer is power outages, don't count on getting power back soon, because the utility workers will be spread out over ten's of thousands of square miles and some of the utility crews that could usually be counted on to pour in to help you will be spread out as far east as Mobile.

I hope I am wrong particularly because my cousin is a Houston cop and lives in NW Houston. Be sure and email me to tell me I am.

[aBootes]

It does bear a rather suspicious resemblance to structural failure. Perhaps it will become a breach later today?

[milagro]

At least there is no-one left behind (repeating Bill Hemmer's just-spoken words) in the 9th ward.

Maybe there is a silver-lining to this--those who scammed $$ from the Feds for the levees may get a lot more scrutiny than if the levees had held.

And maybe--just maybe--some of the corruption that plagues NOLA will get swept away because of Katrina and Rita too.

Oh boy--something new to pray for!

[Orlando]

Mr.President Bush, please address the nation and ask the American people to pray to God, and ask God to reduce Rita power. Please

[bwteim]

You are probably right, they have to keep the viewers tuned in because Rita has not arrived yet & there are no other stories other than the tragic bus fire.

But the refrain from MSM will be similar to this, regardless of Rita's impact on Texas:

ReporterDude in NOLA 12:00 EST,
"this is just another sock in the gut for this neighborhood (9th ward) that has undergone so much"

[nbtex]

Spring TX is sort of a misnomer. About half of north Harris County calls themself Spring. The area will pretty much settle around I-45 and FM 2920. Area West of I-45 to about Stuebner-Airline and South to Around Louetta Rd is zip 77379 and area East of I-45 from Spring-Stuebner on the north then South to Cypresswood is Zip 77388. it would be helpful if we knew some of the streets she mentioned or a subdivision, as some of that area floods a good bit and some does not.

[ncpatriot]

Terrible.

Thanks for the report.

Get some rest. Prayers sent to you and family.

Please let us hear from you again when you are settled.

[IamConservative]

Up until the track shifted early Thursday, the track took the eye about 50 miles or so west of Sealy. My in-laws live in Sealy and left yesterday as have 1/3 - 1/2 of the town.

[bwteim]

Thanks, JFC.

[Blennos]

Thanks! Blennos is also in Prairieville....

Thank you for thinking of me. I think this tornado is passing west of us towards the river. But we can expect more to be spawned throughout the day. Will this never end...?

[Cboldt]

See the photo in post 2494 - looks like it's turning into a breach.

I see that, but haven't seen a picture of the area before water started flowing over it. It may be a low spot anyway.

If the repair isn't designed for overtopping, then it's apt to become a breach, for sure, as the water washes it away (if it hasn't already).

[Types_with_Fist]

I was late in contacting family in the La Porte area and I'm assuming they are gone. That area south of Baytown was a mandatory evac, wasn't it? And, do you know if the traffic out of town is any better at all? I'm hoping they are all not out on the highway somewhere.

[conservative in nyc]

Phillippe is dying out. Its max winds are 40mph, barely tropical storm status. The NHC forecast is for the storm to dissipate into a tropical depression:

Tropical Storm Philippe forecast/advisory number 25
nws tpc/national hurricane center miami fl al172005
1500z Fri Sep 23 2005

A tropical storm warning is in effect for bermuda.

Tropical storm center located near 31.1n 63.2w at 23/1500z
Position accurate within 40 nm

Present movement toward the west-northwest or 290 degrees at 16 kt

Estimated minimum central pressure 1005 mb
Max sustained winds 35 kt with gusts to 45 kt.
34 kt....... 75ne 0se 0sw 30nw.
12 ft seas..175ne 175se 0sw 50nw.
Winds and seas vary greatly in each quadrant. Radii in nautical
Miles are the largest radii expected anywhere in that quadrant.

Repeat...center located near 31.1n 63.2w at 23/1500z
At 23/1200z center was located near 30.8n 62.0w

Forecast valid 24/0000z 31.5n 66.0w
Max wind 35 kt...gusts 45 kt.
34 kt... 75ne 0se 0sw 30nw.

Forecast valid 24/1200z...absorbed...dissipated

Request for 3 hourly ship reports within 300 miles of 31.1n 63.2w

Next advisory at 23/2100z

Forecaster Pasch

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT2+shtml/231430.shtml?

[Dog Gone]

That was one of the suggestions I had to laugh at. Truth is, I have so much exposed glass on that side of the house that couldn't be protected, that I went to a whole bunch of trouble to save one pane. Conceivably, it is now the only pane that won't be broken. ;-)

[Wneighbor]

Isn't beer on FEMA's "immediate necessity" list for Texas?

Better be HUH? :-)

[dirtboy]

Well, it's already downcut through the levee. Which means flooding will continue even after the surge abates.

[steveegg]

True. There's so many hours in the day and only so many high-rating news stories.

[fjsva]

It's the tracking map not a 5-day forecast map that shows it heading toward the east coast. I mistyped and I'm sure your right about the forecast.

My point was a hurricane coming from that direction, perpendicular to Norfolk is a worse case for us.