Live Thread - Hurricane Katrina, Part IV (Update: Now a Category 5 )

NOAA - NHC ^ | 27 August 2005 | NOAA - NHC

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane warnings and watches are posted. Hurricane Katrina continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico. The forecast models continue to converge upon New Orleans. However, all interests in the northern Gulf of Mexico should follow the path of this very large and dangerous storm, and be prepared for a major hurricane landfall. There have been reports of coastal animals leaving in droves for higher ground. Meanwhile, New Orleans continues to suggest that residents evacuate.

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
Navy Storm Track
Katrina Track Forecast Archive Nice loop of each NHC forecast track for both three and five day
Forecast Models
Alternate Hurricane Models via Skeetobite
Bouy Data Louisiana/Mississippi
Buoy Data Florida

Images:

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Experimental Radar Subject to delays and outages - and well worth the wait

Mobile Long Range Radar Loop

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Radar

Ft. Polk, LA Long Range Radar Loop

Northwest Florida Long Range Radar

Storm Floater IR Loop
Storm Floater Still & Loop Options
Color Enhanced IR Loop

Other Resources:

Hurricane Wind Risk Very informative tables showing inland wind potential by hurricane strength and forward motion
Central Florida Hurricane Center
New Orleans Web Cams Loads of web cam sites here. The sites have been very slow due to high traffic
New Orleans Music Online Couldn't resist--love that jazz
Golden Triangle Weather Page Nice Beaumont weather site with lots of tracks and graphics
Hurricane City
Crown Weather Tropical Website Offers a variety of storm info, with some nice track graphics

Live streaming:
copy/paste into player:

WWL-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_wwltv
WVTM-TV/DT Birmingham (WMP) - mms://a1256.l1289835255.c12898.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1256/12898/v0001/reflector:35255
WDSU-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - http://mfile.akamai.com/12912/live/reflector:38202.asx
Hurricane City (Real Player) - http://hurricanecity.com/live.ram
ABCNews Now (Real Player) - http://reallive.stream.aol.com/ramgen/redundant/abc/now_hi.rm

Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

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

[Strategerist]

12Z NOGAPS is in, still directly across New Orleans.

[don-o]

AS another poster pointed out - it is pure CYA

[maggief]

Mandatory evacuation per Nagin!

Hope it's not too late.

[spycatcher]

Well, he's had little sleep...on top of being bad to begin with.

[jetbanana]

Dear Mayor Nagin,

Rev Stat means 'Revised Statute' you idiot.

[GOPJ]

Mud...as in "It was as clear as..." I try to hard to NOT be obscure...but I've hit that wall more than once....sigh...

It's cute -- I should have "gotten it" the first time. :)

[LA Woman3]

Jim Cantore has spent the morning urging viewers to think of Katrina as "the second coming of Camille."

Hey Jim, do you want to be mayor?

[newzjunkey]

Don't they look impressive up there. I want my life left in their hands. (sarcasm)

[Types_with_Fist]

Does the Mayor ALWAYS sound stoned?

He sounds that way to me every time I hear him.

[kenth]

We're praying for your families, their homes, your hometown. There is no limit to the power of God.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Anyone who stays behind stays at a "refuge of last resort."

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

My brother just called from Sevierville, TN. He said he concerned about the tornadoes and flooding this will bring.

I hate to sound testy about this but there are a couple of million people here on the Gulf Coast who would be happy to trade places with a guy a 1,000 miles inland, who might see flooding.

[rang1995]

gulf oil rigs
http://www.rodnreel.com/Maps/LAX.jpg

and refinery row right in the path--besides destruction,lives,(which are most important!)oil and gas will be scarce i think

[TomGuy]

Mayor: city may commandeer buildings, vehicles, etc, deemed 'needed' to help in this evac.

[gimme1ibertee]

Everyone in LA and neigboring areas:
Please take care,evacuate and be safe! Prayers coming your way.Hope everyone makes it through okay.
I know it's like comparing apples and-well,frankly,rutabagas-but
I live in the Northern Neck of VA and experienced Isabel (Cat1) and I have to say I NEVER want to go through that again. I can't imagine anyone wanting to stay on the coast
with a Cat 5 coming. Please be careful.

[NautiNurse]

Yes, he sounded like that last night too.

[Carolinamom]

"We are preparing to deal w/the leavy system." How in God's name will he "deal with" it? I want details.

[cyborg]

Maybe he's tired.

[LA Woman3]

Slidell Hospital (Northshore) is now evacuating.

[Petronski]

Bottom line from the order:

Emergency personnel have the authority to commandeer tall buildings to use as refuges of last resort.