Posted on 09/12/2008 5:12:09 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Large and dangerous Hurricane Ike approaching the Upper Texas coast. Mandatory evacuations began in earnest Thursday as an estimated one million coastal residents headed inland. There were widespread reports of gas stations running out of fuel.
The National Weather Service posted dire storm surge predictions of 20-25 ft storm surge along the coast and bay heads. Hurricane warnings covered a 400 mile swath of the Gulf of Mexico.
Wholesale gasoline prices spiked 30 percent Thursday, or nearly $1 a gallon, out of fear of what Ike might do.
Public Advisory Updated every 3 hours
Discussion Updated every 6 hours
Buoy data: Western Gulf of Mexico
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar
Corpus Christi Long Range Radar
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Additional Resources:
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Brazoria County Emergency Management
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Chambers Country Emergency Management
Liberty County Emergency Management
| 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 Ike Live Thread II
Hurricane Ike Live Thread I
TS Hanna, Hurricane Ike & TS Josephine [Other than that, the tropics are calm]
Tropical Storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine, TD Gustav (Other than that, the tropics are calm)
The difference between a watch and a warning is that a watch is when conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado, the warning is that either one has been spotted or radar shows a hook echo, which is a classic tornado signature.
I’m not sure what is meant about the alert but my guess is that one was spotted.
I’d rather be in the watch area if I had to choose.
It has stalled; hasn’t moved for over 30 minutes....
Agree... it appears to be organizing.
That means the waves will be even higher. Surge itself won’t change much, but the floating houses, or what is left of them, are going to be driven further inland.
10 knots at those wind speeds? Nobody would even notice the difference.
Dang it, someone call Rove and tell him to turn off that dang EVILBUSH Weather Machine.
Houstonians are just too cool to board up! I was raised in Spring and my sister married a native Houstonian. He did evacuate to be with his son, yet he didn’t board up! (He was POed he couldn’t surf in Galveston yesterday, but did enjoy Gustav’s waves.)
There’s a tornado warning in my area, too. I’m in Kansas City, though. Stay safe everyone!!
They have grounded all the helicopters flying in the Galveston area. Wayne Delcifino said they rescued/evacuated 94 people.
Oy. Hope they have some life vests.
Galveston mayor says stay put for Ike
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5998272.html
GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston officials say it’s too late to leave before Hurricane Ike blasts ashore because it’s no longer safe to leave the island city.
Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas said Friday that many residents had left the city after the mandatory evacuation order, but that now the winds are too strong for anyone trying to drive over the causeway to the mainland. She advised residents still there to stay in their homes and ride the storm out.
She might also want to suggest writing their social security numbers on their arms.
That 2nd picture was listed as a ‘joke’ on yahoo photos. The photographer was in a specific point to make it look bad and the guy was holding himself up.
I don’t know how to board up. So, what if I get some broken windows? THings get wet. I have to block it off as best I can. I think I will not get broken window. And, like I say, I don’t know how to do it. I just got amazing siding and andersen replacement windows put in. How would I attach boards without damaging them? I’m serious, I don’t know how to do it. I don’t think I have the tools. And it looks like an awful lot of work.
If anybody wants to hold forth on the joys of boarding up, it might be good for me.
KPRC showing flooding in San Leon, near Texas City with residents wondering what they should do...never seen flooding like this.
They are committed by now. I believe that sections of the bridge off the island is under water at 10 ft ... the discussion at 5PM said it was already up to 9ft.
All’s quiet on the San Felipe & Nantucket front.
Will keep you posted if anything changes.
Off to oil the guns now.
Hooters Galveston has had roof blown off.....pier footings underneath are loosening from surf.
Thanks for the Link to story on Hurricane Camille. It is a good read.
The first topless Hooters!
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