Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
11 Am Edt Thu Sep 22 2005

Rita Appears To Have Reached Its Peak Intensity During The Past
12 Hours. Hurricanes Typically Do Not Maintain Such High Intensity
For A Long Time. Initial Intensity Estimate Is 145 Knots. Although
Some Fluctuations In Intensity Are Likely During The Next Day Or
Two...due To Eyewall Replacement Cycles...an Overall Gradual
Weakening Trend Should Take Place. This Weakening Trend Is Based On
Lower Oceanic Heat Content Along The Forecast Track And Increasing
Shear. Neverthereless...rita Is Expected To Make Landfall As A
Dangerous Hurricane Of At Least A Category Three Intensity.

Rita Has Been Moving Toward The West-northwest Or 295 Degrees At 8
Knots. A Strong High Pressure System Currently Centered Over
Northern Texas/oklahoma Is Expected To Shift Eastward Allowing Rita
To Take A More Northwesterly And Northerly Track. The Eastward
Shift Of The High Is Forecast By All Global Models...resulting In
Track Guidance Consistently Turning The Hurricane Toward The
Northwest And North Toward The Upper-texas Or The Western Louisiana
Coasts. After Landfall...steering Currents Are Expected To Weaken
And The Cyclone Could Meander For A Couple Of Days In The Vicinity
Of Northeastern Texas...producing Heavy Rains.

Based On The Forecast Track And Wind Radii...hurricane Warnings Have
Been Issued At This Time From Port O'connor Texas To Morgan City
Louisiana. Tropical Storm Warnings Are In Effect On Either Side Of
The Hurricane Warning

 

Woo-hoo!! Finally some good news!!

 

I wouldn't exactly go so far as to call this "good news".

 

hence the "rolleyes" smiley...

 

The latest I've seen is that the center of the storm will hit eat of Houston at 1pm Sat, and east Texas on Tuesday. Just being on the west side of the storm will help us out. I think we'll be just fine for the Q! :D

 

Hurricane Rita Advisory Number 21
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
4 Pm Cdt Thu Sep 22 2005

...dangerous Hurricane Rita Gradually Heading Toward The Southwest
Louisiana And Upper Texas Coasts...

A Hurricane Warning Is In Effect From Port O'connor Texas To Morgan
City Louisiana. 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.

At 4 Pm Cdt...2100z...a Tropical Storm Warning Has Been Issued For
North Of The Mouth Of The Mississippi River To The Mouth Of The
Pearl River Including Metropolitan New Orleans And Lake
Pontchartrain. A Tropical Storm Warning Is Now In Effect For The
Southeastern Coast Of Louisiana East Of Morgan City To The Mouth Of
The Mouth Of The Pearl River Including Metropolitan New Orleans And
Lake Pontchartrain....and From South Of Port O'connor To Port
Mansfield Texas. A Tropical Storm Warning Means That Tropical
Storm Conditions Are Expected Within The Warning Area Within The
Next 24 Hours.

A Tropical Strom Watch Remains In Effect From South Of Port
Mansfield To Brownsville Texas...and For The Northeastern Coast Of
Mexico From Rio San Fernando Northward To The Rio Grande.
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 4 Pm Cdt...2100z...the Center Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 25.8 North...longitude 89.5 West Or About 405 Miles...
650 Km...southeast Of Galveston Texas And About 390 Miles... 630
Km...southeast Of Port Arthur Texas.

Rita Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 9 Mph...15 Km/hr. A
Gradual Turn Toward The Northwest Is Expected During The Next 24
Hours. On This Track...the Core Of Rita Will Be Approaching The
Southwest Louisiana And The Upper Texas Coast Late Friday.

Maximum Sustained Winds Are Near 145 Mph...230 Km/hr...with Higher
Gusts. Rita Is A Extremely Dangerous Category Four Hurricane On The
Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Fluctuations In Intensity Are Likely
During The Next 24 Hours.

Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 60 Miles... 95 Km...
From The Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up
To 205 Miles...335 Km. Anytropical Strom Force Winds In The New
Orleans Area Are Expected To Be Confined To A Few Squalls
Associated With Quickly Moving Rainbands. At 3 Pm Cdt...a Noaa Buoy
Reported A 10-minute Average Wind Of 89 Mph...143 Km/hr With A Gust
To 112 Mph...180 Km/hr.

Latest Minimum Central Pressure Reported By An Air Force Plane Was
913 Mb...26.96 Inches.

Coastal Storm Surge Flooding Of 15 To 20 Feet Above Normal Tide
Levels...along With Large And Dangerous Battering Waves...can Be
Expected Near And To The East Of Where The Center Makes Landfall.
Tides Are Currently Running About 2 Feet Above Normal Along The
Louisiana...mississippi And Alabama Coasts In The Areas Affected By
Katrina. Tides In Those Areas Will Increase To 3 To 5 Feet And Be
Accompanied By Large Waves...and Residents There Could Experience
Coastal Flooding.

Rainfall Accumulations Of 8 To 12 Inches With Isolated Maximum 15
Inch Totals Are Possible Along The Path Of Rita Over Southeast Texas
And Southwestern Louisiana As It Moves Inland. Based On The
Forecast Track...totals Accumulations In Excess Of 25 Inches Are
Possible Over The Next Several Days As The System Slows Down. In
Addition...rainfall Amounts Of 3 To 5 Inches Are Possible Over
Southeastern Louisiana Including New Orleans.

Repeating The 4 Pm Cdt Position...25.8 N... 89.5 W. Movement
Toward...west-northwest Near 9 Mph. Maximum Sustained Winds...145
Mph. Minimum Central Pressure... 913 Mb.

An Intermediate Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane
Center At 7 Pm Cdt Followed By The Next Complete Advisory At 10 Pm
Cdt.

 

Hurricane Rita Advisory Number 22
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
10 Pm Cdt Thu Sep 22 2005

...extremely Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita Continues
West-northwestward Toward The Southwestern Louisiana And Upper
Texas Coasts...

A Hurricane Warning Is In Effect From Port O'connor Texas To Morgan
City Louisiana. 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 Is In Effect For The Southeastern Coast Of
Louisiana East Of Morgan City To The Mouth Of The Pearl River
Including Metropolitan New Orleans And Lake Pontchartrain....and
From South Of Port O'connor To Port Mansfield Texas. A Tropical
Storm Warning Means That Tropical Storm Conditions Are Expected
Within The Warning Area Within The Next 24 Hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch Remains In Effect From South Of Port
Mansfield To Brownsville Texas...and For The Northeastern Coast Of
Mexico From Rio San Fernando Northward To The Rio Grande.
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 10 Pm Cdt...0300z...the Center Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 26.2 North... Longitude 90.3 West Or About 350 Miles...
560 Km... Southeast Of Galveston Texas And About 310 Miles... 495
Km...southeast Of Cameron Louisiana.

Rita Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 10 Mph...17 Km/hr. A
Gradual Turn Toward The Northwest Is Expected During The Next 24
Hours. On This Track...the Core Of Rita Will Be Approaching The
Southwest Louisiana And Upper Texas Coasts Late Friday.

Maximum Sustained Winds Are Near 140 Mph...220 Km/hr...with Higher
Gusts. Rita Is An Extremely Dangerous Category Four Hurricane On
The Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Fluctuations In Strength Are
Expected During The Next 24 Hours.

Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 80 Miles...130 Km...
From The Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up
To 205 Miles...335 Km. Any Tropical Storm Force Winds In The New
Orleans Area Are Expected To Be Confined To A Few Squalls
Associated With Quickly Moving Rainbands.

The Latest Minimum Central Pressure Reported By An Air Force
Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Was 917 Mb...27.08 Inches.

Coastal Storm Surge Flooding Of 15 To 20 Feet Above Normal Tide
Levels...along With Large And Dangerous Battering Waves...can Be
Expected Near And To The East Of Where The Center Makes Landfall.
Tides Are Currently Running About 2 Feet Above Normal Along The
Louisiana...mississippi And Alabama Coasts In The Areas Affected By
Katrina. Tides In Those Areas Will Increase To 3 To 5 Feet And Be
Accompanied By Large Waves...and Residents There Could Experience
Coastal Flooding.

Rita Is Expected To Produce Rainfall Accumulations Of 8 To 12
Inches...with Isolated Maximum Amounts Of 15 Inches Over
Southeastern Texas And Southwestern Louisiana As It Moves Inland.
Since Rita Is Expected To Slow Down Significantly After Making
Landfall...total Accumulations In Excess Of 25 Inches Are
Possible Over The Next Several Days Over Eastern Texas And Western
Louisiana. In Addition...rainfall Amounts Of 3 To 5 Inches Are
Possible Over Southeastern Louisiana Including Metropolitan New
Orleans.

Repeating The 10 Pm Cdt Position...26.2 N... 90.3 W. Movement
Toward...west-northwest Near 10 Mph. Maximum Sustained
Winds...140 Mph. Minimum Central Pressure... 917 Mb.

An Intermediate Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane
Center At 1 Am Cdt Followed By The Next Complete Advisory At 4 Am
Cdt.

 

I can no longer take anyone in.

I'll be elsewhere for a while. I gotta take care of troops and people.

 

The boss has cleared me to let someone stay at our house. If you need a place give me a shout. (There are 4 kids at my house, so it is a barrell of fun1 )

Itzli
Stan

 

Here is a picture (in motion) of the skiies at 5:20 PM.

 

Hurricane Rita Intermediate Advisory Number 25a
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
6 Pm Cdt Fri Sep 23 2005

...tropical Storm Force Winds Spreading Over Southwest Louisiana And
Southeast Texas As Dangerous Hurricane Rita Approaches...

A Hurricane Warning Is In Effect From Sargent Texas To Morgan City
Louisiana. 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 Have Already Been
Completed.

A Tropical Storm Warning Is In Effect For The Southeastern Coast Of
Louisiana From East Of Morgan City To The Mouth Of The Pearl
River...including Metropolitan New Orleans And Lake Pontchartrain
...and From South Of Sargent Texas To Port Aransas Texas. 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 6 Pm Cdt...2300z...the Center Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 28.5 North...longitude 92.9 West Or About 100 Miles
Southeast Of Sabine Pass Along The Coast At The Border Between
Texas And Louisiana.

Rita Is Moving Toward The Northwest Near 13 Mph. A Gradual Turn
Toward The North-northwest Is Expected During The Next 24 Hours.
On This Track...the Core Of Hurricane Rita Will Make Landfall Along
The Southwest Louisiana And Upper Texas Coasts Near Daybreak
Saturday.

Maximum Sustained Winds Are Near 125 Mph...205 Km/hr...with Higher
Gusts. Rita Is A Strong Category Three Hurricane On The
Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Fluctuations In Intensity Are Possible
Before Landfall... But Rita Is Still Expected To Come Ashore As A
Dangerous Category Three Hurricane.

Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 85 Miles... 140 Km...
From The Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up
To 205 Miles...335 Km. Hurricane Force Winds Are Expected To Spread
Inland As Far As 100 Miles Near The Path Of Rita. A Noaa Buoy At
Calcasieu Pass Louisiana... On The Coast Near Cameron Louisiana...
Recently Reported Sustained Winds Of 49 Mph With A Gust To 62 Mph.
Sustained Winds Of 37 Mph With Gusts To 54 Mph Were Recently
Reported At Galveston Texas.

The Estimated Minimum Central Pressure Is 931 Mb...27.49 Inches.

Coastal Storm Surge Flooding Of 15 Feet Above Normal Tide Levels...
Locally Up To 20 Feet At Head Of Bays And Nearby Rivers...with
Large And Dangerous Battering Waves...can Be Expected Near And To
The East Of Where The Center Makes Landfall. Tides Are Currently
Running About 2 Feet Above Normal Along The Louisiana...mississippi
And Alabama Coasts In The Areas Affected By Katrina. Tides In Those
Areas Will Increase To 4 To 6 Feet And Be Accompanied By Large
Waves... And Residents There Could Experience Coastal Flooding.
Large Swells Generated By Rita Will Likely Affect Most Portions Of
The Gulf Coast.

Rita Is Expected To Produce Rainfall Accumulations Of 8 To 12
Inches... With Isolated Maximum Amounts Of 20 Inches Over
Southeastern Texas And Southwestern Louisiana As It Moves Inland.
Rainfall Amounts Of 3 To 5 Inches Are Possible Over Southeastern
Louisiana... Including Metropolitan New Orleans With Isolated
Heavier Amounts Possible. Since Rita Is Forecast To Slow Down
Significantly After Making Landfall...total Accumulations Locally
In Excess Of 25 Inches Are Possible Over The Next Several Days
Across Eastern Texas Into Western Louisiana.

Isolated Tornadoes Are Possible Tonight And Saturday Morning Over
Portions Of Southeastern Texas...southern Louisiana Including
Southern Mississippi And Alabama.

Repeating The 6 Pm Cdt Position...28.5 N... 92.9 W. Movement
Toward...northwest Near 13 Mph. Maximum Sustained Winds...125 Mph.
Minimum Central Pressure... 931 Mb.

An Intermediate Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane
Center At 8 Pm Cdt Followed By The Next Complete Advisory At 10 Pm
Cdt.

 

Hurricane Rita (before the storm) picture gallery : http://www.justpiecesofme.com/strang...angehurricane/

 

Videos too:

Video 1

Video 2

 

Power just came back up. It was only down about 8 hours - not bad! Total damages as far as we can see - 1 window with small crack and a bent roof vent. I can live with that. I got a cool pic of a rainbow across a hurricane band yesterday. Will post in a day or two.

Now to turn on the news and see how bad it is elsewhere...