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Posted on 09/22/2005 3:25:57 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane Rita continues to threaten the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. The forecast track has shifted slightly to the northeast, increasing the risk to Southwest Louisiana, and a significant portion of the oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Governor Perry is urging all coastal residents between Beaumont and Corpus Christi to evacuate as soon as possible.
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
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:
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)
KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA
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
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
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 III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18
Holy cow look at FOX News.
Traffic nightmare.
I'm betting the farm your class is canceled.
Turn on Fox & Friends to see the traffic for MILES...
NO cable here, but channel 13 has a bunch of traffic cams (link at top)
The DNC/AP will be handling that task.
I wish it were under different circumstances that we all get together so very often. Are you in the path of this storm?
The shift North now puts ships in New Orleans at risk. I wonder if they should head up the Mississippi?
Sounds like the US Navy may have to do an emergency sortie of ships around New Orleans to get them away from this sudden Northern shift...
Remember, the North East Quadrant is the most lethal, and Rita appears to be putting New Orleans in its cross hairs...
God speed to all...
Guess I'll go burn up some gas.
That's like the 5th day, isn't it?
Not of great import, but is there any talk about the LSU - Tenn football game scheduled for Saturday? Tenn team was planning to fly in Saturday morning, so as not to displace folks from their hotel.
They had been able to top off the tank shortly before she called. Said it took an hour and half to get to the pumps, people going nuts all over the place, and a total cluster****. From what I'm seeing on the telly, things are getting worse, and I feel for anyone still not in line to get out.
Do you really want to waste your precious gasoline for a class that is likely canceled?
It's looking more and more like Austin and the hillcountry might be speared from the effects of this storm. I was hopeing for alittle rain and lower temps. Forecast calls for 102 today. Damn that's hot for the first day of fall!
Wishing everyone a safe weekend,
Wolfcreek
My son left downtown Houston Wednesday evening headed for San Antonio. He is still in Houston! He makes about 1 mile per hour! He says there are broken down cars and cars out of gas everywhere on the road! Yet they have yet to open up the opposite lanes of the highway. Governor just on FN TV saying they are "thinking about it." Waiting due to "safety concerns. If they don't open it up soon the safety concern will be that all these folks in cars will be caught in what they're now talking about a storm that may make CAT 6!
If you head out the door I will call you names that are not printable.
You will waste gas and spend all day in the car.
It HAS been canceled - or who ever makes that decision is an idiot.
That raises a question. I would have thought the shallower parts of the gulf would be the warmest. Why is the middle the warmest? In a pond you get to the edge and it's markedly warmer as you get to the edge, and in the middle, after you churn down below the surface it gets downright chilly.
Anyone have any thoughts?
I thought that I had read that they were going to do that some time today. Not sure though. I suppose that there is still a need for people to travel the other way to secure properties and such.
Just listening to some official on KHOU who is saying "they are working on a plan now". Good timing there, I'm sure all the people stuck on the roads last night or today will love you for it. /s
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