Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part IV

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[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

[trillabodilla]

As far as I've heard, it's still "on", but ESPN "Game-day", which was supposed to be here, now is not.

We'll probably hear more today. I'll find out from my co-worker Bruce, he bleeds purple and gold.

[texianyankee]

I'm prepared for a rough weekend and a day or two more - but not a rough week or two!

Hopefully, the worse case scenario in College Station will be loss of electricity and street flooding.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Not really. I was just melting down after another 11 hour end of fiscal year day.

[johnb838]

I don't know what to say. This is going to look really bad after.

[Uncle Ike]

"There is no Cat 6. If there was it would be."

Maybe someone should tell Doocy (F&F) that -- he just said "..and if she becomes a category 6, -- then she'll be a category 6"

I sometimes wonder if those people can even feed and dress themselves...

[Flyer]

Yeah, I would turn on the GPS and take the two lanes.

[Bahbah]

It is a nightmare! Pray for Houston and the people on the roads.

It is, and I will.

[Heatseeker]

I wonder if anyone has tried going around, southwest to El Campo and then Hallettsville, etc.

[johnb838]

Just tell them you tried but got stuck in the traffic.

[johnb838]

Back roads are out of control too by now, at least that's what the Brazoria county sheriff was saying earlier.

[trillabodilla]

"power outages"

I really haven't been worried about it until this morning. I notice Rita's taking a more northerly turn.

I don't want her to come here, and I don't want her to go to Texas either.

Lord, let Rita DIE OUT!

[gumboyaya]

I have been watching traffic on Hwy90 west of Houston. It has been bumper to bumper since yesterday morning with no let up. All gas stations out of fuel. Personally will be staying put which now looks like good idea, especially if it continues to track east of Houston. My family lost 7 houses in Katrina, hope it won't be 8 by sunday.

[Warren_Piece]

Interestingly, on the pro side, the Texans have a bye week this week, and play in Cincinatti on Oct 2nd.

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/HOU/8875391

According to that, they evac'd the team yesterday. Which means they got about 30 miles, if they didn't take a private jet.

I wonder if Reliant Stadium was build to withstand a CAT 4.

[texianyankee]

Not that you are interested in the Aggies, but since you mentioned college football - FYI I understand the Aggies have moved up their game with Texas State (formerly known as SWTSU) to today - Thursday.

[johnb838]

Nooo... Dooocy has been saying that if there was a cat 6 she'd be one. I've heard him say that several times. Steve isn't brain dead. A bit too silly and cutesy for me sometimes, but usually not braindead.

[dixie sass]

Morning

[txdoda]

I watched the season premier of "Invasion" last night.

???.....i didn't

Could explain the behavior of Ray Nagin.

LOL....One "TX" saying explains Nagin pretty good......"He's eat-up with the dumb a$$".

[steveegg]

No streaming from the 3 stations in the Lake Charles/Beaumont/Port Arthur that have both websites and news departments, at least not yet -

KPLC (NBC - Lake Charles)
KBTV (NBC - Port Arthur)
KDFM (CBS - Beaumont)

[LuLuLuLu]

Would you also please put me on the ping list?

[dixie sass]

Put me on your ping list, please ma'am.