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

[tcrlaf]

<<< geraldo stuck in port arthur>>>

Like we didn't see THAT one coming.....

[FreeReign]

This might turn out to be a lucky break for Houston if there's no damage, but the evacuation forced the NOLA evacuees to go elsewhere.

"The NOLA Evacuees"
On tour.

Coming to a city near you.

[Petronski]

MSNBC reporting the pictures are videotape and the fire is actually now "out."

[momf]

either (1) lucky or (2) stupid

[steveegg]

Taking the last 2 vortex report positions, she's directly on a course to Sabine Pass. The path between the new eye fix and the lighthouse is 326 and 50 nm out. With a 25 nm eye, the northwest edge of the eye should be there shortly before 2, the center about 3, and the southeast edge departing about 4 (unless I fouled up my math).

[Txsleuth]

Nope...heard it on the local news..

[Abigail Adams]

Check out www.khou.com. They have had video of the fire. Across the street from the opera building in the Strand, historic district. I think I have that right.

[Spktyr]

Check your FRmail if you're still monitoring.

[BurbankKarl]

that is because Shep probably has a big wind machine for effects

[Miss Marple]

I am listening to Blanco, and am feeling that she has been schooled by someone.

I need t sleep for a few hours. I will check in later, after midnight.

[Howlin]

LOL......you better hope that AM isn't in the path of this storm. :-)

[fishntex]

Bwhawhahahha did you see Rita Cosby's outfit?? She reminded me of that character on South Park Kenny!!

I was thinking of the old cartoon character Vavoom. He was a buddy of Felix I think.

[Bubbette]

You are right. It does smell weird outside! Organic does describe it.

[Palladin]

Thanks for that post. Sometimes the hatred for Mexican immigrants on this forum disgusts me. That driver was NOT to blame for the fire, or for the oxygen tanks exploding.

[steveegg]

The eye is 25 nm wide (28.75 miles).

[oceanview]

wasn't the early report that he drove on, even though the brake on that wheel was malfunctioning?

[Types_with_Fist]

Governor Gump on Fox with Greta.

[CindyDawg]

SHHH (we have company). Go watch Shep;')

[TomGuy]

[groanup]

You realize that you don't have to read threads you don't like. You can safely ignore our pitiful mewling by not clicking the link. I'll thank you to try it.

Noted. Thank-you.