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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
I heard that at 5:00 AM EST then around 6:00 some guy on the radio said it was down to 150. For all I know he was reading a wire report from yesterday.
It does appear from the current forecast it will start to weaken and continue to do so, hopefully they'll be correct.
What happens to things like building cranes in hurricanes?
Welcome to grim central.
roger that, It took me 8.5 hours to go from clear lake to austin and we left at 1300 on wed
We will amaze you. Houston ain't NOLA.
We are expecting 6 evacuees from Houston sometime today. They leave at 11am (central)and we doubt we'll see them before 8pm. Usually it's a 3-4 four hour drive.
My son is stuck in all the traffic and he is freaking out. I don't think he knows the backroads. Hasn't been in Houston all that long. Do you know of any alternative routes tht might work?
I'm glad my precious Astros will be in Chicago this weekend.
Done
Not sure, but we had a huge tornado go right through downtown Nashville in 1998. At the time The Titans' stadium was under construction. The cranes were all destroyed.
My friend in Houston told me yesterday that the roads are all jammed. Galveston is virtually deserted. Getting ready to call her now.
Fox news has been reporting this a.m. that there are gusts up to 212mph with sustained winds at 170-something. Only time will tell.
TWC reporting 902 mb
Yer profile page rocks when using FireFox!
;<)
For sale nice lot in what used to fashionable upscale Clear Lake City. Use to have a 2 story house on it
The good news is that this event should be more like Mississippi and not Louisiana.
We can bank on Texans in general being tough with politicians that won't cry.
Be safe, my family just left in a three car convoy headed for Ft Worth by way of Waco. I gave them good maps to stay off any main road before they hit College Station, and all the cars are full.
Thanks again for a great job.
The Navy ships assisting in N.O. relief all left port over the last few days, to get out to open sea, where they can ride the storm out safely. They don't go up the river, they go out to sea. And they have done that. They are pros.
I thought that those Pooper Coopers would float??!!??
It was 100F yesterday and the same is planned for today.
Just saw on the news that Rita has adjusted focus to hit Galveston dead on.
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