Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

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

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita continues to move toward landfall along the northwest Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations continue across Texas and Louisiana coastal areas. Lake Charles LA is providing evacuations by bus for residents who have no transportation.

Traffic gridlock in the greater Houston area was compounded by gasoline stations without fuel, long lines at those stations still carrying fuel, and record breaking temperatures on the first day of autumn.

Offshore drilling platforms and rigs, as well as oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants are in the path of the storm. Wave heights recorded by buoy have exceeded 38 feet. The refineries threatened by Hurricane Rita are on higher ground than those affected by flooding from Katrina. As a result, speculation abounds regarding future prices for winter heating fuel and gasoline.

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
KPLC-TV Lake Charles KPLC Streaming
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 IV
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[NautiNurse]

I see you missed the memo to back up your speculation with some facts.

[Bahbah]

I'm still here in Houston, prepped and ready!

We'll be watching for you, Flyer.

[LikeLight]

Disturbance at Petro Truck stop . . . might want to send couple of units . . .

Beaumont scanner

[Sunshine55]

From your lips to God's ears...

[Flyer]

I hope we flip twice so we end up right side up.

[Calpernia]

It's weakened to a C4 already? I keep hearing it will hit as a 4; but I thought it was a 5 and still strengthening last night?

[Calpernia]

It's weakened to a C4 already? I keep hearing it will hit as a 4; but I thought it was a 5 and still strengthening last night?

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

it will hit land and leave many people homeless...

[Skylab]

Is that a prophetic utterance, a hunch, or something you heard on from a weather person?

I read it here: Hurricane RITA Strike Probabilities

40% of hitting 27.8N 92.4W (that's Louisiana)
39% of hitting GULF 28N 91W (Louisiana)
34% of hitting GULF 28N 93W (Louisiana)
29% of hitting 29.2N 93.8W (Louisiana)
...and so on

Galveston, TX 26%
PORT ARTHUR, TX 26%
Freeport TX 24%
New Orleans, LA at 15%

All of the most likely landfall points are in Louisiana.

[Calpernia]

sorry for the echo.

[cgk]

Sigh.

[Flyer]

Thanks to you and everyone that has us in their thoughts and prayers.

[Ryan Spock]

Thanks again for all you do, NautiNurse!

There just aren't words for what a fantastic service you are providing with these threads...

[randita]

Re: Suburban vs. Excursion.

We've had a Suburban for 5 years and it's been great. Rented an Excursion once on vacation and did some rough road driving and hubby didn't like it at all. He said it wallowed all over the place. Also it didn't seem to have as much space as the Suburban for the size and was more of a gas hog. I think you've made a good choice with the Suburban.

(Are they even making Excursions any more?).

[commish]

OK this is a very bad sign. Part if the latest info from the Recon flight. I will bold the important numbers.

0035. 2615N 09015W 02437 5398 051 140 122 122 144 02082 0000000100

AF just picked up 140KT 30 second sustained winds IN THE NW QUAD. THat supports surface winds of 150 MPH again.

[james_f_hall]

It moved over cooler water and is going through eyewall replacement. It might intensify back to CAT5 as it moves over deep warm water.

[Guenevere]

I remember hearing today that some of the hospitals could not move everyone...those who are seriously ill or etc....

..and that doctors/nurses have chosen to stay with them.

May God keep them safe and bless their servant willingness.

[meyer]

Thanks for keeping up with this, nautiNurse.

[NautiNurse]

Weakened and Category Four are mutually exclusive terms. It's the difference between being hit by a freight train, or an 18 wheeler rig. Take your pick.