Posted on 09/12/2008 5:12:09 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Large and dangerous Hurricane Ike approaching the Upper Texas coast. Mandatory evacuations began in earnest Thursday as an estimated one million coastal residents headed inland. There were widespread reports of gas stations running out of fuel.
The National Weather Service posted dire storm surge predictions of 20-25 ft storm surge along the coast and bay heads. Hurricane warnings covered a 400 mile swath of the Gulf of Mexico.
Wholesale gasoline prices spiked 30 percent Thursday, or nearly $1 a gallon, out of fear of what Ike might do.
Public Advisory Updated every 3 hours
Discussion Updated every 6 hours
Buoy data: Western Gulf of Mexico
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar
Corpus Christi Long Range Radar
Brownsville Long Range Radar
Lake Charles Long Range Radar
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional Resources:
Navy Tropical Cyclone
Storm Pulse Very cool site
KHOU Houston
ABC 13 News Houston
FOX News Houston
KPLC Lake Charles
KFDM 6 Beaumont/Port Arthur
KKBMT 12 Beaumont
KRIS-TV Corpus Christi
KZTV Corpus Christi
Brazoria County Emergency Management
Galveston County Emergency Management
Chambers Country Emergency Management
Liberty County Emergency Management
| 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 Ike Live Thread II
Hurricane Ike Live Thread I
TS Hanna, Hurricane Ike & TS Josephine [Other than that, the tropics are calm]
Tropical Storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine, TD Gustav (Other than that, the tropics are calm)
They did see the streets flooding. Kids came home from the beach with stories of big waves smashing apart the beachhouses. Water came up to the doorsteps in several neighborhoods and still people stayed. Nobody expected the storm to be as bad as it was because the warnings were inadequate. After the wind picked up, and the roof of Ritter's saloon collapsed and killed several men, the storm was finally taken seriously. By then it was too late for most people to leave.
I think the Galveston Bay Entrance Buoy went down, no report since 2026 CT..
The Galveston Pier 21 NBDC Station is reporting a Sharp increase in water height to 9.97 ft. at 2206PM local.
Galveston Pleasure Pier (marina) is up to past 10 ft, now. Reading was at 2212 local.
All Houston bay Monitors now showing rising water, and higher levels in the front bay will be moving back.
placemarker
Haven’t been to Galvesto in about ten years but at that time there was a lot of touristy development around Moody Gardens, presumably that’s at considerable risk too even tho’ it’s on the “inside”.
Interesting, thanks for the link.
I agree...really was just warning anyone watching this coverage., which btw, might have been absorbed by at least some folks who think they can duplicate it, and stay, not evacuate....again their choice, but don’t expect the rescue folks to arrive in the knick of time under such horrific conditions.
Shep lost me when he was such a whiner during Katrina.
That already happened today in S. Carolina and N. Carolina.
Shep and/or Geraldo lovers need to apply mascara NOW.
Have you read "Isaac's Storm?"
The buoys farther out earlier today had 18ft seas on the NE side.
No, I like him too. Ever since 9/11, and later when I ran into him in NYC (nice guy).
I bet it’ll be approaching $6.50
in the Midwest next week.
This storm is bringing big trouble
to the whole country and maybe for
quite awhile.
Prayers on my pillow for all suffering
through the anxiety and uncertainty of
this dark, frightening night.
God’s merciful protection and safety
be with all of you. May He rest the
souls and comfort the families of
those who won’t be on this earth
tomorrow.
Until the am ........
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
-—which ones wears the stilletos?
I have reservations for the Gulf Coast Conference in mid-October at Moody Gardens.... wondering if it will happen or not. Galveston is a neat place. Great seaside restaurants. I hope it isn’t as bad as it sounds.
Right on time...
Is that Shelia Jackson Lee standing in the back at the presser?
I have reservations for the Gulf Coast Conference in mid-October at Moody Gardens.... wondering if it will happen or not. Galveston is a neat place. Great seaside restaurants. I hope it isn’t as bad as it sounds.
yep - I know. And he’s a Demorat. But I think he’s amusing regardless.
Can’t take Geraldo tho.
Fox Channel weather guy just said NWS data shows winds at 200-300 feet above ground are around 150 mph. Expect a lot of flying glass in downtown Houston tonight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
