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Locked on 09/22/2005 3:40:46 AM PDT by Jim Robinson, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1489163/posts |
Posted on 09/21/2005 4:19:11 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Extremely dangerous and large Category Five Hurricane Rita is churning westward across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Air Force Reconnaissance indicated the central pressure has dropped to 904mb, making Rita the fifth most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin.
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from Northern Mexico through the South Louisiana coastline. Galveston TX used school buses to evacuate residents. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in effect along the Texas coastline.
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
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana
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)
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
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
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 II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18
Sorry, I thought you were still in PB. To be safe, you should always shutter. For instance, there are tornados when hurricanes go inland. What other advice did you get on that question, and do folk in DFW even have hurricane shutters?
I'd guess we'll see a special advisory at some point. Winds are probably going to be closer to 180mph+ once they get a new fix.
If you're staying, put it in the very front, or on the very top if you have a chest freezer, and when the power flickers, pull it out and have an ice cream party!
If you're leaving, clean out your refrigerator and freezer, and buy new when you get back.
Best estimates, uncomfortable posting these, it's very early to project this kind of thing on the basis of a computer modelled landfall this far in advance....but here you go:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/jeffers_mz/Rita/01myforecast.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/jeffers_mz/Rita/01myforecastzoom.jpg
Good to see that the system is all over this one as far as clearing out folks.
No. Katrina made landfall as a cat 4. Rita has not made landfall since it was a cat 1, and may miss the US or make landfall as a cat 4 or lower. Get your facts straight.
In case yall don't have this link-
http://www.click2houston.com/index.html
You guys are awsome.
Hey laz, I'm here in Houston proper and am just blown away by the bizarre nature of this cane season. I agree there is something weird going on...
At this point, they don't need a special advisory (unless Rita starts falling apart, which she better do). I'll stick with 165, maybe 170 mph for the 10 pm one.
I'm sorry, would you explain the reference to Holiday Inn Express? Somehow, I didn't see that one go by.
Hiya IT...what a nightmare...
She'll go annular before long.
By the way, I'll bet a gallon of gasoline that Katrina's landfall will eventually be upgraded to that of a Cat 5 system -- by the pressure alone, it was stronger than Andrew at landfall... took a few years for the NHC to re-evaluate Andrew.
"It is mind boggling to me that two Cat-5 storms -- of which we have only seen three IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MODERN METEOROLOGY -- have occured in such a way as to strike the US in under thirty days.
Something very peculiar is going on."
Check this out: post # 17
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1488733/posts
You're probably right, but the NHS never officially rated Emily as a 5.
Ivan brings the modern CAT 5 total to 26.
Recall Allen 1980. It weakend significantly. Praying for the same here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Allen
Eat it!
I'd suggest you follow your own advice.
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