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

[SE Mom]

Hmmm...that indicates the ridge letting go earlier.

[TXBSAFH]

Do you have a Link on that? I live less then an hour north east of Galveston.

[Strategerist]

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod/analysis/

[epaul]

Just wanted to thank you for this live thread. When the Katrina thread was locked I had a hell of a time trying to get more info on the area hit. Please everyone don't mess up and get this one locked. This is the BEST place for information I have found.

Thanks again

[jpsb]

What I can never understand is how NHC can forecast a move north and almost always be right! They are good, do you think the north turn is going to happen again with Rita? I have serveral females friends in near panic mode right now. I've been telling them Mexico and wait till Wendesday to freak out. (Where I live is surrounded by water in Galveston bay).

[Chasaway]

How does this map look in relation to the stuff you look at/information you have?

Are they wacky or using incorrect stuff or what? Why is there such a big difference in their map and most others?

[shield]

I thought there was a strong ridge over that area?

[TXBSAFH]

Thanks.

[numberonepal]

do you think the north turn is going to happen again with Rita?

Leave now or as soon as possible. Waiting for tomorrow will most likely be a nightmare. If the center comes within 100 miles of you, expect 10 - 15 ft surges for a Cat 3.

[DrewsMum]

why do you say pearland should be ok in all but a 5?? Katrina was a 4 and devasted some houses as far north as 1 and a half from Miss coast,,,,

[laz]

If Nagin sees that map...

[MEG33]

http://www.khou.com/

This site has good links and info for our area.

[Chasaway]

Shield:

Let me say what I don't know about this stuff would take the biggest storage facility they've got.

I just saw this map and wondered why it was so drastically different...

Motherbear:

Someone I know agrees with you! They said, "Hey! They've already evacuated NO, already have a ton of damage (read "total loss" in places). Let's send it there!"

Don't know why it makes me feel weird to consider that reasonable..(except for the sending it there, part).

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I have serveral females friends in near panic mode right now. I've been telling them Mexico and wait till Wendesday to freak out. (Where I live is surrounded by water in Galveston bay).

You know...usually I'm not too pushy...but...you should leave now...or at least within the next 12 hours.

[DrewsMum]

where exactly do you live??

[Chasaway]

"If Nagin sees that map..."

At least he wouldn't need as many buses this time.

'Course, he doesn't have as many buses...

[SE Mom]

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/wxloop.cgi?wv_east_enhanced+12+-update+3600

Interesting map in motion- wait for a minute to load completely- you can see the ridge they're talking about to the upper left...

[Miztiki]

You're nuts! My yard floods from a heavy rain. I'm not sticking around. I'm outta here tomorrow morning.

Good luck to you if you don't leave now. You'll need it!

[Zechariah_8_13]

On your map there's a line from "2 AM Sat" to where Rita's supposed to come ashore. That line goes right over the top of my house! Matter of fact, if I go out on the deck and look up, I can see it. And it's bigger than it looks on the map, I'll tell you that right now.

LOL!

I'm in Austin -- have only been in the state for a yr and a half. Praying the storm weakens, with no serious effects, and that we can all just enjoy a good douse of much-needed rain.