Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VI

NHC - NOAA ^ | 23 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Dangerous Hurricane Rita is expected to make landfall in the northeast Gulf of Mexico within 24 hours. Tornados have spawned in Louisiana. Water is filling the Ninth Ward of New Orleans again. A bus carrying elderly evacuees was gutted by fire this morning outside Dallas, with multiple fatalities. Television crews have positioned their hurricane reporters throughout the region to attain maximum drama effects. Whoooooa.

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
Jefferson Co TX NWS Weather
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:

Lake Charles Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Lake Charles Experimental Radar Outages and Delays May Occur

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
KPRC-TV/DT Houston
KTRK-TV/DT Houston
KTRH-AM Houston
KPLC-TV/DT Lake Charles/Lafayette
KSLA-TV/DT Shreveport

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
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 V
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

[freema]

"Five people in the lunchroom yelled A$$hole in unison at the TV when he asked that question."

Tell them they didn't yell loud enough.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU! : )

[Lanza]

Well, looking back we could not have gone back home in an hour and half had there been contraflo on Hwy 59. We bitched for 24 hours why they didn't open the other side (although we would have made it to my sister's house in half the time). We could never have turned around and made it back so easily.

[LdSentinal]

Agreed. Why watch the Liberal media blame Bush for everything when you can watch TWC and see Stephanie Abrams's and her wet shirt.

[kassie]

We're watching the local news. They have N.O. film showing right now.

[steveegg]

I-45 is moving at posted speed limits. Contraflow is no longer in place.

About 18 hours before landfall; not shabby at all despite what the presstitutes will say.

[abb]

Well, then....all we need is a little cold rain...

[hummingbird]

Do you guys flood? What kind of temps does Michigan run in the fall?

[Howlin]

We're watching the local news. They have N.O. film showing right now.

*Sigh*

[jpsb]

Blowing pretty good on Galveston Bay, seas 5ft, wind topicial storm force out of the north. Just closed the bar, very few beer drinkers left here. Will post until I move to the more secure house, watching news and waiting until near hurricane force winds begin.

[AlleyCat48]

Thanks for that radar...I am in Louisiana...just SE of Lafayette. Needless to say, we're sweating out Rita. I've been lurking since Katrina and I've decided to join in.

[tutstar]

ping to 158

[Lanza]

Yeah, Monday Bastardi had me thinking there would be no Houston Texas left. I was scared to death (of course I may still be since we are staying- I will let you know after the hurricane).

I slept through a category 3. I hope I do the same with this one.

[Lemondropkid31]

Is it going both ways now? I hope!!!

[Steve_Seattle]

"About 18 hours before landfall; not shabby at all despite what the presstitutes will say."

They'll probably continue to show traffic pics from yesterday morning.

[sheikdetailfeather]

That reporter also asked President Bush "I mean..what can you do?" (I don't know who the reporter was).

[Lanza]

It depends on what TV station you are watching.

[hummingbird]

Same here...when this is all over, Honore should be made press secretary and make his first, and last, call to whoever that *ss was who showed such disrespect.

[BurbankKarl]

that whole area was destroyed...it is near where the barge is sitting...

[Tennessee_Bob]

Whoa - now there's a flashback.

[steveegg]

Believe it or not, I saw a hurricane evac route sign where I live. Where do I live? In West Michigan along the lakeshore. LOL.

Huricane Evac or Nuclear Evac? Well, you are on the windward side of the lake, so....