Hurricane Rita: Texas and Louisiana in Path

A SURFACE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW IS PRODUCING A LARGE AREA OF CLOUDINESS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC... PUERTO RICO... AND THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS NORTHWARD INTO THE ATLANTIC FOR A FEW HUNDRED MILES. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED THIS MORNING AND UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE ALSO GRADUALLY BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE. THIS SYSTEM COULD DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION DURING NEXT DAY OR SO AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT 5 TO 10 MPH. INTERESTS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS DEVELOPING DISTURBANCE.

THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED ABOUT 170 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HAS CONTINUED TO BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED TODAY AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 MPH. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED AND BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED NEAR THE LOW LEVEL CENTER...AND UPPER LEVEL WINDS ARE SLOWLY BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE FOR A TROPICAL DEPRESSION TO DEVELOP TONIGHT OR SUNDAY. INTERESTS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS DEVELOPING DISTURBANCE. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM ON SUNDAY...IF NECESSARY.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHTEEN ADVISORY NUMBER 1...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT SAT SEP 17 2005

CORRECTED AWIPS IDENTIFIER FROM AT1 TO AT3

...THE EIGHTEENTH TROPICAL DEPRESSION OF THE YEAR FORMS TO THE EAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS...
...WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED...

AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHTEEN ADVISORY NUMBER 3
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 AM EDT SUN SEP 18 2005

...DEPRESSION ORGANIZING AS IT NEARS THE BAHAMAS...
...HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...

AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM OCEAN REEF SOUTHWARD AND WESTWARD TO DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA...AS WELL AS CENTRAL AND WESTERN CUBA...SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

According to local news stations, Rita is headed west toward the Florida Keys. A hurricane watch is in effect. Evacuation is recommended for tourists.

More later...

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM RITA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
8 PM EDT SUN SEP 18 2005

...RITA GETTING MUCH BETTER ORGANIZED AND STRENGTHENING AS IT NEARS THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS...

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM OCEAN REEF SOUTHWARD AND WESTWARD TO DRY TORTUGAS...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY. THE WATCH AREA WILL LIKELY BE UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WARNING LATER TONIGHT.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. PORTIONS OF THIS WATCH AREA MAY BE UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WARNING LATER TONIGHT.

A HURRICANE WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...MATANZAS...CIUDAD DE HABANA...LA HABANA...AND PINAR DEL RIO...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE PROVINCES OF CIEGO DE AVILA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...AND CIENFUEGOS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA FROM DEERFIELD BEACH SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY AND CONTINUING WESTWARD TO EAST CAPE SABLE. THE WATCH AREA WILL LIKELY BE UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND POSSIBLY A HURRICANE WATCH LATER TONIGHT.

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.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM RITA ADVISORY NUMBER 5
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT SUN SEP 18 2005

...RITA MOVING CLOSER TO THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS......NEW WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN FLORIDA...

AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z... THE HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WARNING. A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE FLORIDA KEYS AND FLORIDA BAY FROM OCEAN REEF SOUTHWARD AND WESTWARD TO DRY TORTUGAS.

AT 11 PM EDT... THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE NOW IN EFFECT FROM DEERFIELD BEACH SOUTHWARD TO FLORIDA CITY AND CONTINUING WESTWARD TO EAST CAPE SABLE.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...MATANZAS...CIUDAD DE HABANA...LA HABANA...AND PINAR DEL RIO...AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE PROVINCES OF CIEGO DE AVILA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...AND CIENFUEGOS.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. A HURRICANE WARNING IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS... EXCLUDING GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO ISLAND.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...AND FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.

AT 11 PM EDT... A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA FROM WEST OF EAST CAPE SABLE WESTWARD TO CHOKOLOSKEE.

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.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM RITA ADVISORY NUMBER 6
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 AM EDT MON SEP 19 2005

...RITA GATHERING STRENGTH IN THE BAHAMAS...
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH... 95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED...AND RITA COULD BECOME A HURRICANE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

While the National Hurricane Center track for Rita has it going toward Texas, local news stations using VIPIR has it going toward the Louisiana coast. Last year, VIPIR accurately forecasted Charley's path while most other models had it targeting Tampa Bay.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM RITA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 8A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
8 PM EDT MON SEP 19 2005

...RITA WOBBLES A LITTLE WESTWARD...EXPECTED TO REACH HURRICANE
STRENGTH LATER TONIGHT...

Snippets:

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS... AND RITA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES ...165 KM FROM THE CENTER.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 9 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 5 FEET IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA COAST...AND IN THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE LATER TONIGHT AND TUESDAY OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS AND THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA.

Forecasters Fear Hurricane Rita's Strength

KEY WEST, Fla. -- Rapidly strengthening Hurricane Rita lashed the
Florida Keys on Tuesday and headed into the Gulf of Mexico, where
forecasters feared it could develop into another blockbuster storm
targeting Texas or Louisiana.

Thousands
of people were evacuated from the Keys and low-lying areas of northern
Cuba. On the far side of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Galveston started
evacuations and officials made plans to move refugees from Hurricane
Katrina who had been housed in the Houston area to Arkansas.

Also via the St. Pete Times.

In a matter of hours after reaching hurricane status today, Rita became a category 2 and is expected to become stronger as she continues westward.

Hurricane Rita lashes Florida Keys

KEY LARGO, Florida (CNN) -- Thousands of
residents of the Florida Keys hunkered down as Hurricane Rita lashed
the islands with blinding rain and winds Tuesday afternoon.

and

Louisiana braces for Rita

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (CNN) -- Authorities in storm-struck Louisiana made plans Tuesday in case Hurricane Rita heads their way.

BULLETIN
HURRICANE RITA ADVISORY NUMBER 15
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 AM EDT WED SEP 21 2005

...MAJOR CATEGORY THREE RITA MOVING INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN...

Rita is expected to strengthen to a category 4 some time today.

5 AM UPDATE: Hurricane Rita is now a Category Three storm in the Gulf

Key West, Florida - Hurricane Rita's top sustained winds are up to 120
miles per hour, and forecasters say the storm is expected to reach Category Four strength sometime today.

Category Four hurricanes pack sustained winds of at least 131 miles per hour.

Rita,
the fifth major hurricane of the season, largely spared the Florida
Keys. But it's aimed for the Gulf Coast, where people are worried.

Video 1

Video 2

BULLETIN
HURRICANE RITA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 17A...CORRECTED
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
7 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

CORRECTED PRESSURE CONVERSION TO 26.52 INCHES

...CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE RITA CONTINUING TO DEEPEN...
...NOW THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN
ON RECORD...

HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
650 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...RITA BECOMES THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD...

DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT AT 623 PM CDT...2323Z...INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS
FALLEN TO BELOW 899 MB...OR 26.55 INCHES. THE DROPSONDE INSTRUMENT
MEASURED 32 KT/35 MPH WINDS AT THE SURFACE...WHICH MEANS IT LIKELY
DID NOT RECORD THE LOWEST PRESSURE IN THE EYE OF RITA. THE CENTRAL
PRESSURE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST AS LOW AS 898 MB...AND PERHAPS EVEN
LOWER. FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES... A PRESSURE OF 898 MB IS ASSUMED...
WHICH NOW MAKES RITA THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF
PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SOME ADDITIONAL DEEPENING AND
INTENSIFICATION IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO.

RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MB
AND THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB.

According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale:

Category Five Hurricane:

Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge
generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on
many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building
failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs,
trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes.
Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes
are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of
the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures
located less
than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline.
Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10
miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category
Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States
since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane
Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew
in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida
Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in
the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast
causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian.
Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern
Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record.
In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a
Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic
tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb.

http://eroblogsearch.ru download video