Posted on 09/24/2005 9:58:36 AM PDT by Howlin
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:
Hurricane Rita Freeper CHECK IN THREAD
FReeper Sign In Thread (LOCKED) 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 VII
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
No. Still trying to build a big picture, one anecdotal report at a time.
Thanks for your post about the surge. I've been so worried about that area because of the ominous silence. It was the same way after Katrina. There was no news from the Mississippi Gulf Coast during the first 12-24 hours because everything down there was almost wiped out. I hope the residents got out of there before it hit.
Just got back from a couple of errands...not good in Lake Charles...looking like tsunami pics.
No, the report said "just south of Houma".
My software says that's a minimum nine foot surge.
Nagin up next!
Many of my St. Bernard relatives are putting the responsibility directly on the shoulders of Blanco and Nagin. This new creation of hers is a way to snap up funds for LA before damage assessments are made, including to the other states.
They won't be prepared for the backlash and resentment they are causing all around this country.
Nagin up, popcorn on.
Mayor "come home" on now...
ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Nagin is up...
That's bad....:o(
Means many people in many small towns could be in big trouble.
Nothin' Nagin and Blank-o - what a team
No cable here.
Dial up too.
I'm informationally challenged.
flash flooding in Shreveport and Shelby county texas..we need to watch shreveport area, rainfall rates of 3-4 inches an hour with whats left of the eye wall and it looks like the movement may be slowing..could stall over the city
Away from the TV - can you give me a blow by blow on what Nagin is saying? Thanks.
Can someone post the pic of nagin riding the school buses!
Still water seeping into Ninth Ward. Flooding seems to be contained to the Ninth Ward. (That will make the tin foil people start in again.) Most parts of city are dry except for rain water...12-14 inches.
The re-flooding of NOLA is not much of a news event. No new property damage, no additional loss of life.
Interested in learning in more about those areas near the state line.
Synopsis anyone?
Thanks, Peach ... ping to timeline.
Sheets in place are blocking two canals. No place to pump now. Protection against storm surge is most important.
It did what storm surge does sometimes...the sea rises slowly like an extra-high high tide, comes in after the the worst of the windstorm, and just keeps rising until it's done.
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