Official "Rita" thread!

[Tim G]

Hurricane Warning in effect...
Tornado Watch in effect...
Flood Watch in effect...

Today
Cloudy with hurricane force winds developing. Widespread squalls...with isolated thunderstorms. Very heavy rainfall. Northeast winds increasing to 60 to 80 mph...with higher gusts possible. Winds turning to the southeast to south late in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s.
» ZIP Code Detail

Tonight
Hurricane force winds early. Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall at times. Lows 75 to 80. Southeast winds 50 to 65 mph with higher gusts early...decreasing to 25 to 40 mph overnight. Chance of rain 80 percent.

Wednesday
Becoming partly cloudy and continued windy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Mostly southeast winds decreasing to near 20 mph late. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy and breezy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Thursday
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 90. Mostly east winds near 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Thursday Night through Monday
Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows near 80. Highs near 90. Chance of rain 30 percent each period.

 

[Tim G]

Key West Base Reflectivity 0.50 Degree Elevation Range 124 NMI

 

[rainfully]

Thanks for keeping us updated! Your avatar is cute.

 

[Cliffordsmon]

Thanks Corrus!

 

[Erika]

Regina... Oz... anyone else down in that area (Dan?)... be careful...

 

[Tim G]

Hurricane Rita Special Advisory


Statement as of 9:15 am EDT on September 20, 2005


Doppler radar data satellite presentation and pressure falls from the reconnaissance aircraft indicate that Rita has reached category
one hurricane strength on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale.
This will be reflected on the 11 am, 1500z advisory.

The regular 8am advisory below remains in effect until then.

Tropical Storm Rita intermediate advisory number 10a 8 am EDT Tue Sep 20 2005

Reconnaissance plane about to reach Rita will determine if it is a hurricane.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island and New Providence.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for all of the Florida Keys and from Golden Beach on the Florida southeast coast southward to East Cape Sable, then northward to Chokoloskee on the southwest coast.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Matanzas, Ciudad de Habana and la Habana.

A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch are in effect from Deerfield Beach Florida southward to north of Golden Beach.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Florida West Coast north of Chokoloskee to Englewood.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Florida East Coast from north of Deerfield Beach northward to Jupiter Inlet, as well as for Lake Okeechobee.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Sancti piritus, Cienfuegos...and Pinar del
Rio.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area generally within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

At 8 am EDT, 1200z, the center of Tropical Storm Rita was located near latitude 23.8 north, longitude 80.4 west or about 100 miles 160 km east-southeast of Key West Florida.

Rita is moving between west and west-northwest near 15 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
On the forecast track, the center of Rita will be passing near the lower Florida Keys around midday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph,with higher gusts.
Rita is expected to become a hurricane later today.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 120 miles from the center.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 988 mb, 29.18 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 7 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves are possible in the Florida Keys in areas of onshore flow.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 4 feet is possible along the extreme southeastern Florida coast.

Rita is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over the western Bahamas and eastern Cuba.
Storm totals of 6 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches are possible in the Florida Keys and central and northwestern Cuba.
Storm total accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are possible across the southern Florida Peninsula.

Repeating the 8 am EDT position, 23.8 N, 80.4 W.
Movement between west and west-northwest near 15 mph.
Maximum sustained winds, 70 mph.
Minimum central pressure... 988 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 11 am EDT.

 

[Tim G]

Rita becomes the ninth hurricane of the season.


Hurricane Rita Advisory Number 11


Statement as of 11:00 am EDT on September 20, 2005

a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for all of the Florida Keys and from Golden Beach on the Florida southeast coast southward to East Cape Sable, then northward to Chokoloskee on the southwest coast.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Matanzas, Ciudad de Habana and la Habana.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Florida West Coast north of Chokoloskee to Englewood.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect along the Florida East Coast from north of Golden Beach northward to Jupiter Inlet, as well as for Lake Okeechobee.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio.

At 11 am EDT, 1500z, all warnings for the Bahamas have been discontinued and for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos.

At 11 am EDT, 1500z, the Hurricane Watch from Deerfield Beach Florida southward to north of Golden Beach has been discontinued.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 11 am EDT, 1500z, the center of Hurricane Rita was located near latitude 23.8 north, longitude 81.0 west or about 75 miles southeast of Key West Florida and about 100 miles east-northeast of the city of Havana Cuba.

Rita is moving toward the west near 15 mph and this general track is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.
On this track, the core of the hurricane will be moving over the Florida Straits between the city of Havana and the Florida Keys today.
However, he strongest winds associated with the northern eyewall are expected to impact portions of the Florida Keys directly.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph with higher gusts.
Rita is a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 120 miles.
Sombrero Key recently reported sustained winds of 59 mph with gusts to 72 mph.

Minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force reconnaissance plane was 982 mb, 29.00 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves are possible in the Florida Keys in areas of onshore flow.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet is possible along the extreme southeastern Florida coast.

Rita is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 8 inches over the Florida Keys, entral and northwestern Cuba, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches.
Rainfallamounts of 3 to 5 inches are possible across the southern Florida pennisula.
Rains are expected to continue to diminish across the Bahamas.

There is possibility of isolated tornados over South Florida and the Florida Keys.
Repeating the 11 am EDT, position 23.8 N, 81.0 W.
Movement toward west near 15 mph.
Maximum sustained winds 85 mph.
Minimum central pressure 982 mb.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 2 PM EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 5 PM

 

[Tim G]

Key West Base Reflectivity 0.50 Degree Elevation Range 124 NMI

 

[Tim G]

Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Cone

 

[Tim G]

Rita Now A Hurricane, Begins Lashing Keys



UPDATED: 11:14 am EDT September 20, 2005


MIAMI -- Hurricane Rita began lashing the Florida Keys on Tuesday with heavy rains and strong winds.

It's threatening the island chain with a 7-foot storm surge and sparking fears the storm could eventually bring new misery to the Gulf Coast.

Rita has officially reached Category 1 hurricane status with sustained top winds of 85 mph.

Thousands of residents fled the Keys before Rita. Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels are possible in the Keys, and coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet is possible along the extreme southeastern Florida coast.

Rita is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 8 inches over the Keys and central and northwestern Cuba, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are possible across the southern Florida pennisula. Rains are expected to continue to diminish across the Bahamas.

There is possibility of isolated tornados over south Florida and the Keys.

Residents and visitors were ordered to clear out of the Keys, and voluntary evacuation orders are up for tens of thousand people who live along Miami Beach and other coastal areas of Miami-Dade County.

Some people still in the Florida Keys said maybe they should have left before the storm. Key West resident Linda McAlarney said evacuating ahead of Rita was the "right thing to do" and she probably should have followed the warnings. A man riding a bike through Key West in the rain said, "You can't run from a storm."

At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Rita was located about 75 miles southeast of Key West, Fla., and about 100 miles east-northeast of Havana, Cuba. Rita is moving toward the west near 15 mph. On this track, the core of the hurricane will be moving over the Florida Straits between Havana and the Florida Keys today. However, the strongest winds are expected to impact portions of the Florida Keys directly.

Forecasters said Rita could strike Mexico or Texas by the weekend, or turn toward Louisiana. The storm already has the attention of officials in Galveston, who have called for a voluntary evacuation.

About 40,000 Florida residents living from below Marathon to Key West are under an evacuation order. A hurricane warning is in effect for the extreme southern Florida peninsula, including the Florida Keys, the state's southern Gulf Coast, as well as for the Bahamian island of Andros and part of Cuba.

Rita is the 17th named storm this season, which is the fourth busiest since record- keeping began in 1851. Twenty-one tropical storms formed in 1933, 19 developed in 1995 and 1887, and 18 formed in 1969.

Another storm, Philippe, is spinning far out in the Atlantic Ocean. It was upgraded to a hurricane Sunday night.

 

[Tim G]

Taking No Chances, Texas Prepares For Rita



Even though Rita is more than 1,000 miles away, Texas authorities are taking no chances and have begun preparations.

The island city of Galveston, 60 miles southeast of Houston, will have a voluntary evacuation order in effect Tuesday.


The precaution comes in the wake of the widespread devastation and political finger-pointing brought on by Hurricane Katrina.


Galveston residents who can't evacuate on their own will be able to take buses to shelters starting Wednesday.


By the coming weekend, a forecast track puts Rita near Texas. However, people in areas smashed by Hurricane Katrina are being warned the storm could veer in their direction instead.


Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said it is too soon to tell exactly where Rita will go.

 

[Tim G]

New Orleans Mayor Reverses Course



Mayor Ray Nagin said Rita could be "equally dangerous" to New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina.


Nagin said city appears to be on the storm's "wet side." And he said any storm surge could overwhelm the levees and flood the city again.


Forecasters said Rita is passing between Florida and Cuba into the Gulf.


The city is requesting 200 buses to help in a possible evacuation. Residents who have returned have been told to be ready to evacuate again. The buses would start running 48 hours before landfall from the downtown convention center and a stadium in Algiers.

 

[Tim G]

Key West Base Reflectivity 0.50 Degree Elevation Range 124 NMI

 

[Disnut]

Thanks Corrus

 

[Tim G]

Local Key West Satellite MODE:Visible Daylight

 

[Tim G]

bump

 

[Aurora_25]

Thanks for the update Corrus- we are getting prepared here in Houston just in case it hits us...

Oh, something my mom told me today- for those of you near where the hurricane might strike- clean your bathtub and then fill it up with water- that way you have good drinking water later when it is harder to find.

Keep us posted Corrus

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

Wow, good bathtub idea! I'd rather be dirty than thirsty and possible dead from dehydration. But how do you keep the beer cold? :veryconfu

 

[Aurora_25]

Wow, good bathtub idea! I'd rather be dirty than thirsty and possible dead from dehydration. But how do you keep the beer cold? :veryconfu

Go buy lots of ice before the storm hits and put it in your bathtub- clean off the bottles of beer so that not only do you have drinking water, but you have cold beer....:lookaroun

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

I was (kind of) joking.


Diet Cherry Coke is WAAAAY more important than beer.