Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VII

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

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita landfall is anticipated within the next few hours. Strong winds and heavy rains are battering southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas.

MSM news crews are shouting over the howling winds as they foolishly describe blowing rain, swaying trees, and crashing waves through rain splattered camera lenses. It's a hurricane. We know these things already.

An 18 wheeler rig reportedly overturned on an I-10 bridge. The fate of the truck driver is unknown at this time. Reports of widespread power outages in Lake Charles. KPLC-TV Lake Charles local news has remarkably improvised their reporting from a remote location. They are taking calls from residents, NWS, and public utility representatives, and alerting residents to local conditions.

On the flip side, CNN announced to the world that law enforcement officers had evacuated from Port Arthur TX with the rest of the population. Engraved looter invitations would have been more elegant.

Godspeed to all those in the path of this storm.

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 VI
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

[newzjunkey]

That's an interesting notion. I'd support such a thing.

We've covered things like 9-11, the 2000 election court battles, speeches, debates, quakes and so forth with summaries and running commentary but not something as sophisticated as an online feed.

[wxdawg]

Southern Jasper Co. will follow Southern Newton Co. in Texas...so be on alert....

[bd476]

Thanks for the clarification.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I saw the Weather Service 6 month outlook a few weeks ago and this winter is supposed to be warmer than average for the northwest, and about normal for the rest of the northern US. Precipitation is expected to be slightly above average.

[glock rocks]

Geraldo is in the red zone....

It takes some guts to walk into a fan that size. This ain't Capone's vault. For whatever reason, this is life on the line stuff. Hope he gets out okay. I must say I'm amazed by the newsfolk tonight.

[Brad’s Gramma]

What county is Houston in, anyone know?

[JohnD9207]

Thank God John wanna do me a favor, can you check out my Bass Boat in Emory....OK Just kidding. Keep your family safe...GOD BLESS.

[Lauretij2]

Harris

[steveegg]

Good night Arizona Carolyn

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks..

[GOPyouth]

Did Rick L's street lights go out?

I don't have the tv on back here. BUT, Leventhal sure has been in some dangerous situations. I remember his coverage of 9-11 when those towers came down, and his great coverage in the Iraq war.

My girlfriend's brother is a SEAL stationed in San Diego. He has a photo of his SEAL team with Leventhal in Iraq during the race into Baghdad. It's a really cool shot.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Harriss

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'm not ready for snow BG! 'Sides, it's supposed to be in the 60's and 70's for the next few days. :P

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Harris. one s

[Revel]

When you think about all the things that had to work to recieve that feed...It really is incredable that they lasted that long. Even if you consider the make shift studio running on back up power to be a given... The Main station had to retain power Some kind of Dish there had to remain in place to recieve the microwave signal. And there computers and internet connection through all of the servers had to stay up. They were really lucky as it was.

[LibertyRocks]

Count me in for a live broadcast if you ever need a North Central WI correspondent! Of course, I'd have to invest in some fun computer gadgets! (o:

[BigSkyFreeper]

What county is Houston in, anyone know?

Harris County.

[steveegg]

Thanks for the map.

[Brad’s Gramma]

WHOO HOO!!! A WARM snow! ;)



Hey y'all...I'm buggin' out for the night. MANY prayers to all in harm's way. Please check in when you can...

Nite!