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

[Termite_Commander]

Nice tagline, laz. =P

[Chasaway]

Ha! Not likely! Like Honore says, "We're not stuck on stupid, here."

There's a whole lot my wife doesn't know about what goes on around here.

Like she doesn't know that I found out where she hides my truck keys.

[thackney]

but the forecasters are all saying the conditions do not favor a Cat 4 or 5 storm.

Forecasts put equal chances of being a Cat 4 or 5 in three days equal to being a Cat 1.

Wind Speed Forecast for RITA

[MEG33]

Thank you, NN for the thread.

[shield]

It all depends how fast she continues to move and of course how fast the ridge shifts eastward. If the ridge delays due to the western weather pattern...Corpus Christi could actually be the target or or or...KING RANCH...LOL...

[samantha]

You are right when a storm is a hit and run fast moving storm, there is usually less rain and depending on how low the BP is and the wind velocity less damage unless accompanied by torandos. It is the hours and hours of sustained winds beating and punishing that cause the most damage. If you start hearing what sounds like a woman screaming not in fright but just sceaming at the top of her lungs, accompanied by several planes racing down the runway for takeoff that is what our tornado sounded like during Charlie last year. Did you ever have as tornado there?

[Chasaway]

Well, if you're not gonna post a picture showing it going away all together, then I guess this is okay.

Seriously, thanks for your posts.

[laz]

Nice tagline, laz. =P

Yes, it sums up the Dem Party very nicely, doesn't it?

[No Blue States]

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

Do you think its time to cancel my reservations for next week at Rockport? My plan was to drive through Victoria next wed the 28th and spend a few days fishing the bay.

[Sam Cree]

I think it is easterlies that cause westward movememt, fwiw.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Hey, I haven't stayed happily married for 21 years and NOT know how to make my Marine think he is in control......... ;^)

[Tarheel]

Shortly after Katrina hit, I got a new 'puter and have been setting it up along with a change to DSL and a change in carrier! Therefore I have not been on-line much (just fussing and muttering at all the changes)--I am back and what do I see but what I saw three weeks ago. It seems like Ground Hog Day all over again.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I'm dancing I'm dancing........ is it moving away yet?

[jpsb]

Well just damn, looks like it's going to be a nail biter, and we will only have 24 hours to determine if we need to evacuate. Damn. Well good news is cat 3 will be surviveable (barely) where I'm at.

[Chasaway]

"Hey, I haven't stayed happily married for 21 years and NOT know how to make my Marine think he is in control......... ;^)"

Yes, ma'am...that's the way it is here, too.

I wear the pants in this family. She just tells me how to put 'em on.

[SE Mom]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1487899/posts?q=1&&page=109#109

In other news- Mayor Nagin slams the Feds today:

"On Tuesday, Nagin had harsh words for the federal government’s top official in the city, Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who he said “stepped outside his lane by talking directly to the citizens of New Orleans.”

[NautiNurse]

lol - the more things change, the more they stay the same during this hurricane season.

[Txsleuth]

bttt