Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VII

NHC - NOAA ^ | 23 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita landfall is anticipated within the next few hours. Strong winds and heavy rains are battering southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas.

MSM news crews are shouting over the howling winds as they foolishly describe blowing rain, swaying trees, and crashing waves through rain splattered camera lenses. It's a hurricane. We know these things already.

An 18 wheeler rig reportedly overturned on an I-10 bridge. The fate of the truck driver is unknown at this time. Reports of widespread power outages in Lake Charles. KPLC-TV Lake Charles local news has remarkably improvised their reporting from a remote location. They are taking calls from residents, NWS, and public utility representatives, and alerting residents to local conditions.

On the flip side, CNN announced to the world that law enforcement officers had evacuated from Port Arthur TX with the rest of the population. Engraved looter invitations would have been more elegant.

Godspeed to all those in the path of this storm.

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
Jefferson Co TX NWS Weather
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:

Lake Charles Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Lake Charles Experimental Radar Outages and Delays May Occur

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)

KHOU-TV/DT Houston
KPRC-TV/DT Houston
KTRK-TV/DT Houston
KTRH-AM Houston
KPLC-TV/DT Lake Charles/Lafayette
KSLA-TV/DT Shreveport

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
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 VI
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V
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

[mtbopfuyn]

Yes, prayers to those who stayed behind to help.

[LibertyRocks]

Got it up now... Someone else beat me to it though! Gosh these threads move fast! (o:

[txroadkill]

$20 says Shep is bleeding before 11 PM.

[Blogger]

Might be that cyclone that is about to lift him up and take him to the land of Oz. Hope he brought his slippers.

[Mo1]

Thanks for the new thread and all your hard work

[Flyer]

See, I DO read it!

[antivenom]

When crossing that bridge, look real close at the railings on each side. There are crossed pistols made of iron on each of the supports. They look like some kind of pirates type pistol. Neat.

I drive that bridge 4 times a month...you are right looks like 2 old reolvers crossed at the barrels...work in Houston and Lafayette (O&G).

[Unknown Freeper]

Steve, perhaps you could post your update on this thread, too.

[spectre]

They don't pay you enough, NN..:) Thank you.

sw

[Kahuna]

Congrats to JR..this site just keeps on ticking!

[HoHoeHeaux]

Rita 55 miles from Sabine Pass, moving 11 miles per hour. Landfall 4 am (ish)EST.

http://flhurricane.com/cyclone/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=57108&an=0&page=0&gonew=1#UNREAD

[Alia]

Thank you, NN.

[Milly]

I'm glad , as I just lot my Purple hat !

[RummyChick]

Hard to believe Greta lost audio and Shep had to take over in the middle of winds where he claims he will be knocked down if he doesn't hold onto the sign.

[dandelion]

Aye Aye - we're heading in for a long night, Cap'n...

Thank you for keeping these threads going!

[LikeLight]

Tornado warning is not a tornado watch. It means there's a tornado on the ground or a storm with obvious "hook echo" indicating rotation. Yes, the watch box will move up. But understand what the warning means.

[Howlin]

What about Phillipe???

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Eaker and clan will be overjoyed that the engraved invitations were sent out. I guess you really have to lead 'em with heavy winds, though.

[RDTF]

Is this #4 or #5?