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

[NTegraT]

Hear on Channel 2 that the traffic on I-45 southbound, which will accommodate northbound traffic, will be opened at 10:00 a.m. to Buffalo, TX, which is a good long distance. After that is accomplished then they will do 290, when that is accomplished then they will do I-10. Must be difficult to have to close all oncoming ramps, especially when there is no access road for incoming traffic.

[nicolezmomma]

We are staying until mid-afternoon with the hope that traffic will have lessened with the inital crush of evacuees.

This indeed did happen last year the day before Charlie when the Tampa area was in its sights. The traffice was backed up from St. Pete through north Tampa all day and into the evening. In the middle of the night things calmed down considerably, and a guest we had from Virginia had a clear sail going home at 1:00 am.

Things in your area may be different, though, since it appears a lot more people are evacuating. Just trying to give you a word of encouragement :)

[Types_with_Fist]

According to Fox, the zone will be moving slightly more to the east. They are mentioning Lake Charles now.

[OB1kNOb]

bookmark
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489163/posts

[blam]

"If so, then it's because of the water funneling into the Bay. I tried to get that point across yesterday. ;^)"

That appears to have happened in Mobile Bay during Katrina.

[johnb838]

Ed Rappaport on F&F STRONGLY hinting that the areas east of Houston should start getting ready to go.

[bonfire]

Fox had Houston family on phone that left at midnight and even then, traffic at 20 mph.

I just told my hubby for the 500th time in the last 10 years "Don't ever move me to Houston!!" Too many people, traffic etc. even on a good day.

[AntiGuv]

Based on past hurricanes and how they interact with coastal topography, 38 ft sounds to me a lot more reasonable than 50 ft for the maximum potential surge in Galveston Bay. Of course, I'm just an amateur. If TWC said 50 ft with authority, then I'd go forward with that assumption.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Maybe Lake Charles has a levee that the Govt can detonate as the storm goes through. I guess W is intentionally driving this storm north.

[bwteim]

Thanks for the ping, and thanks for keeping the thread updated. You get honorary MSF Award: (Max Mayfield, Bob Sheets, Neal Frank).

You know what else those three Hurrican Center Directors have in common, BTW?

[NautiNurse]

Some Freepers started evacuating yesterday morning. There has been a steady stream of them reporting out ever since. We have a whole lot of FReepers in this storm's path.

[Quilla]

Hubby filled up the gas tanks in two of his boats (150 gallons each) just prior to Katrina. I have mixed emotions about the practice. One, I think we contributed to the increased demand and subsequent rise in prices. Yet on the other hand, it is reassuring to have the gas available.

[blam]

"Very dangerous situation especially for rescue ships docked in NOLA on the river."

I heard that the Navy ships left port yesterday from NO.

[AntiGuv]

PS. And 38 ft is rather dreadful enough.....

[NautiNurse]

You know what else those three Hurrican Center Directors have in common, BTW?

They all live(d) in Miami?

[Daniel Ramsey]

I am beginning to see a vision of miles of gridlocked cars sitting on the freeways getting hit with 215 mph gusts.This may be the worst case scenario, that Houston ran out of gas in the last day before the storm hits thus preventing many from leaving.
Texas officials may have dropped the ball in getting the contraflow started, I used to live in Houston and its got a good freeway system but not when there is heavy rains. Houston is only 15 feet above sea level so there will be major flooding on the streets and runoff ditches.

Gas is not available now getting out of town, it will even be more scarce afterwards.

[Zacs Mom]

Plaquemines Parish- the day after

[60 Miles North]

traffic out of Houston moving at FOUR mph

[N8VTXNinWV]

Mazey & Alton ping!

[AliVeritas]

This looks more North than the others to you?