Hurricane Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 20 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita is in the Florida Straits, impacting the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for numerous portions of South Florida. Check local weather statements for updates.

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 SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband only
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

WTVJ-TV/DT Miami (NBC6)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (CBS 4)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (Fox)

Other Resources:

Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City

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:
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[rodguy911]

I still say what people are forgetting is that this thing has a fast forward speed that changes everything, limits damage, limits exposure to core winds etc.

[MEG33]

I'm not real comfortable just north of Houston...

[Sam Cree]

Thanks. Good luck, then.

[Chasaway]

Well, I never have to mow it anyway; it's one of those that's covered in white rock. You know, kind of a "coastal" look.

Awwwwwww! I just realized. SMALL ROCKS! Hurricane!

Somthing else to put on the list for the wife and kids.

"#78. Put all the rocks in the garage."

[TX Bluebonnet]

We're in Victoria. Claudette was bad enough at a CAT 1. I'm not sticking around to see a CAT 3

[shield]

Well, this track puts her a little further north of you.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Please give me your wife's phone number - I have a great training plan for husbands I'll be happy to share with her.........;^)

[Sam Cree]

"but last night was exceptionally breezy...(so was yesterday)... ..and this AM heavy rainfall...Could this be a bit of Rita?..I'm central Florida, east coast."

Yes, definitely.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

You lookin' to get smacked? lol

[Dog Gone]

The 12Z model runs are pointing more toward Matagorda/Freeport again. Not bueno. I personally favor the outlier that for some reason sends it to blam's house in Mobile.

http://euler.atmos.colostate.edu/~vigh/guidance/atlantic/early1.png

[rodguy911]

Current mollasses 39/50 knots,
sombrero--marathon 50/59knots65-70mph.baro falling
key west--sand keylight--29.61 falling fast,40 knots--45 mph,,increasing fast.

[NautiNurse]

FOX interview...asking people not to drive down flooded streets. Don't want the wake going into peoples houses.

[onyx]

You're amazing. I just knew if I checked, I'd find you here! Be safe Rod and God speed. BBQing today? :)

[Chasaway]

I've got in-laws in New Braunfels, and they've promised us shelter in the past.

But I'm gonna be hacked off if they're renting the extra bedrooms out to Katrina evacuees!

What's worse is I never know what they're going to charge us per nite when we stay there. It always depends on how full the hotels are.

My dad-in-law just shrugs at me and says, "It's what the market'll bear, boy."

[aberaussie]

We got heavy rain for 30 minutes to an hour here in Winter Park.

[kassie]

Uggggh, did you see this???

DON'T STOP DANCING.

Freeport is way to close to you and me!

[laz]

She's getting larger very quickly. Outer bands to the north now reach as far as Cape Canaveral.

[NautiNurse]

Naples about to get some weather.

[MEG33]

Good thinking..