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

[Wneighbor]

Well, we were watching but it's beginning to look like we dodged this bullet and Rita's not going to make landfall here.

ROFL -- So glad you're in the clear! Now, back to work!!! :-D

[numberonepal]

then post law enforcement at EVERY single on ramp

And don't forget that these LEO are all from different county and local governments. It takes time to get them all coordinated. I've also read, can't remember where right now, that there never was a plan for contraflow out of Houston. If that's true, then it's just shy of a miracle that it happened at all.

[AFPhys]

Those folks don't have to drag along an extra several tons of weight hanging from a long string.

I have enough trouble carrying a cup of coffee down the hall without trying to suspend it from a string and being jostled by a couple linebackers on either side of me.

The news and CG are quite different types of machines than the heavy-lift helos, and that mission can tolerate far more turbulent motion (as long as the pilot/ passengers don't mind being sick and sore the next day). I could check with my office mate (who was a chopper pilot) to be absolutely certain, but having that type of turbulence yanking on a several ton weight bouncing the chopper up and down might even be likely to cause structural failure of the blade assembly...

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for the local report. Seems the storm is due south of you now too.

[rwfromkansas]

Geez, just don't go to work. I think they would understand.

[Flyer]

Is yours an essential job? This storm is gonna come right up your direction.

[BurbankKarl]

Riverside County USAR also went (C-5), as did 10 AMR ambulances from Sacramento to stage in San Antonio. Code 3

[Lemondropkid31]

I HAVE to go to work. I am a security guard.

[Wneighbor]

Your family seems awfully happy with a looter.

Hehehe... it's good to have an opportunity to put these practiced skills to use! Eaker, you got great kids.

[Lemondropkid31]

I thought that Conroe wasn't even in the "bubble" anymore. Neither is The Woodlands.

[BurbankKarl]

they had reports of that last night! Did you see the drunk body surfer they arrested outside the San Luis?

[AliVeritas]

You should have heard this song on Rush just now, "Everyone knows it's Cindy". It was hilarious.

[bonfire]

Security guard for what? Prison?

[Lemondropkid31]

a manufacturing plant

[Flyer]

Ok, understood.

I'm sure roads are clear southbound, if that's your direction.

Stay safe!

[onyx]

Thanks for the reminder. I am sick of TV news. I'll find Rush on the radio.

[AliVeritas]

You're surprised? You haven't been here long, have you?
It wouldn't be anti-Bush... that's why.

[nwctwx]

Pressure was measured at 931, now 930. I think the winds won't go down again unless the new convection completely disappears. We may not see a cat4 with the next advisory, but it is clear she is not slowly weakening as the last advisory said. Winds are still low for the pressure, but they have been throughout the storm...not sure why, maybe it's not mixing to the surface.

I think it will be in before 10am as well, the earlier slow/stall ideas seem to be more progressive now... including after landfall.

[Lemondropkid31]

Yea, they are clear going south. I just dont want to run into piles of wind. But I dont think there is going to be much of anything.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Ok, since this storm is looking like its petering out for my area, Iam thinking I do not have to leave for work at 2 or 3pm. I have to be there at Midnight. Since 45 is open mabe I can just wait for a few more hours?

Cmon dude...use a vacation day or a sick day...your employer will understand I'm sure.