Hurricane Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 20 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita is in the Florida Straits, impacting the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for numerous portions of South Florida. Check local weather statements for updates.

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 SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband only
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

WTVJ-TV/DT Miami (NBC6)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (CBS 4)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (Fox)

Other Resources:

Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City

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:
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[Heatseeker]

I'm just coming on. 24-hour FR coverage for Delmarva. ;)

[Howlin]

Well, since I'm not the only one questioning your posts, I feel I'm in fine company.

[fatima]

Tex_GOP_Cruz,Are you leaving.

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

Onyx: thank you for the concern. I'm about 60 miles from the coast, but I'm still watching the track very closely.

[Howlin]

Do you really believe that hurricanes intensify as they move onto shore?

Well, evidently somebody at NOAA does.

Climate of 2005 Summary of Hurricane Katrina National Climatic Data Center, Last updated - September 1st, 2005

[raygun]

Woops, bad formatting: KL49 is at the airport outside of Larose (just east of Houma - HUM). What is the station reporting on the suface at the same time the Dopplar radar was shot (from my previous post)?

KL49 291624Z AUTO 24032G49KT 24/23 A2909 RMK AO2 P0004 PWINO
KL49 291522Z AUTO 25032G52KT 26/23 A2891 RMK AO2 P0006 PWINO
KL49 291342Z AUTO 27046G58KT 24/23 A2862 RMK AO2 P0012 PWINO
KL49 291322Z AUTO 28044G65KT 24/23 A2853 RMK AO2 P0006 PWINO
KL49 291300Z AUTO 28053G68KT 24/23 A2844 RMK AO2 P0001 PWINO
KL49 291240Z AUTO 29049G72KT 24/24 A2842 RMK AO2 P0034 PWINO
KL49 291220Z AUTO 30053G74KT 24/24 A2839 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E P0026 PWINO
KL49 291121Z AUTO 32055G76KT 24/24 A2836 RMK AO2 P0024 PWINO
KL49 291004Z AUTO 35059G78KT 25/24 A2858 RMK AO2 P0004 PWINO
KL49 290922Z AUTO 01053G75KT 26/25 A2873 RMK AO2 P0055 PWINO
KL49 290822Z AUTO 36039G58KT 25/24 A2891 RMK AO2 P0039 PWINO
KL49 290802Z AUTO 36046G62KT 26/24 A2896 RMK AO2 P0007 PWINO
KL49 290740Z AUTO 36040G50KT 26/25 A2901 RMK AO2 P0025 PWINO
KL49 290720Z AUTO 01038G48KT 26/25 A2907 RMK AO2 P0011 PWINO
KL49 290700Z AUTO 01030G46KT 25/24 A2913 RMK AO2 P0003 PWINO
KL49 290640Z AUTO 01035G53KT 26/25 A2914 RMK AO2 P0028 PWINO

Do you really believe that hurricanes intensify as they move onto shore?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you.

[onyx]

I was 150 miles from the coast and still lost power for 5 days. I wish you well and know that you're prepared, right? :)

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

so your husband's advice would be to "run" asap, right?

I went to the local Super Walmart and it was incredible. One of the older women working there, who had a strong accent, said it looked like a war zone. She said she was in East Germany before they reunited with the West and the store shelves looked a lot like what we were seeing at Walmart. Even the computers were worn out and processing sales very slowly.

I took pictures with my cell phone and emailed them to my mom. She said she could see a lone bag of Lay's Sour Cream and Onion chips on the shelf. My 8-yr-old son was so excited when he got the last bag of Funyons. I never thought we'd see this! It was nearly comical...nearly.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Disappear, now wouldn't THAT be a wonderful blessing?

[onyx]

Well there, Missy. You SO CA folks had a pretty good T-storm last night according to my youngest son.

[Miztiki]

I'm in the Houston area but am getting out of here in the morning.

I need to go to bed but I keep checking to see if the track has changed... My husband insists that everyone is overreacting. I hope the track changes for his sake.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Heh. That we did. :)

[BJungNan]

Do you really believe that hurricanes intensify as they move onto shore?

Of course they intensify as they move on shore. Before that, they are just out in the ocean kicking up waves. Once they come on shore is when they start blowing down buildings and tearing up cities.

I've never once heard of a hurricane than was not better off out at sea than inland, unless you are in a boat.

[Termite_Commander]

Yeah, I ate the cake. Now I feel sick. Isn't that always the way?

[BJungNan]

Did anyone go for the dog food. If I'm ever in that situation, I'm heading straight to that isle.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

don't forget me :) still trying to decide if I'm going to FW. Hubby says I am, but he may stay.

There's also Pax_et_bonum. She's just temporarily moved 3 weeks ago into a little RV park right off of I-10 where Galveston Bay begins. I don't know if she's even online right now.

[fatima]

Night Miztiki.

[onyx]

OK! Added both of you. Thanks and please post whatever you decide to do.

HC -- I hope you're keeping a list too. I have to call this a night soon. :)

[El Gato]

A true understatement. They (the authorities) are going to have to make some hard decisions in the next 12 hours. It will be interesting to see what types of decisions are made and who they affect.

They've got mandatory evacuations for Galveston and Brazoria counties, probably others, and parts of Harrison county. They routes and destinations identified, and buses lined up. They are evac-ing the folks from the Astrodome to Arkansas, by air. The evacuations are time phased, from Galveston norhward.

This is Texas, not Huey Longville.