MM, I live down the way from you. I can't even begin to imagine evac'ing from the west side of Houston. I'm supposed to be in Austin this weekend anyway, but now the thought of elaving my home - which is up for sale anyway... Uggh. Go away Rita. Please.
If a cat 5 hits Galveston/Houston, Galveston will disappear and downtown Houston will look like Beruit during the war. Only 3 cat 5 storms have ever gone on land. It is incredibly rare, particularly this late in the season. Remember that the last two to do it were Camille and Andrew, both early in the alphabet.
And Ohio State has never lost a night game at the shoe. I think most experts would admit that his has been a 'unique' season.
Not necessarily. We've had a lot of storms but not a lot that made landfall. The reason so many in September (let alone LATE September) turn more north and east is the general flow of the jet stream this time of the year. There are more pacific fronts that make it to Texas and more high pressure in the region. Given the degree of the misses by the tracking models for Katrina (most off by 300-500 miles), we still have a ways to go to say we are in the direct path. Any movement to the east would not be too surprising given the history and the general nature of weather this time of year.
The problem is that there doesn't seem to be a front to grab hold of this storm and turn it..... Thus it can keep on chugging WNW......ARRRRGGGHHH
That is definitely one factor. The biggest for this one is how far east that high pressure system moves. If it remains over LA/Miss, it will steer the storm right towards us. The further east it moves, the more north the storm will eventually turn. It will literally steer right around the perimeter of that high pressure system.
Unless there is a low pressure system pulling it towards us....... I would like the rain, but the wind can stay home thank you very much. DD
Not this kind of rain. 18 inches in 24 hours isn't the kind of rain that is good for plants. You want a long, soaking rain over the course of a few days, so a hurricane would not be your answer. Cohen: No question it has been a BUSY hurricane season. No question. But, the patterns of the storms have followed very normal patterns - if there is such a thing as normal with hurricanes. Not to say this one won't make it here, but we'll see. Just read a couple more items around the web and the general consensus is that the environment ahead of Rita, while favorable for development into a major storm, isn't nearly as favorable as, for example, when Katrina was in the Gulf. As a result, most of the intensity models are holding at a borderline cat 3 in 4 to 5 days. Also, this storm is moving pretty quickly and should continue that trend - 14-16 mph. That will slow some development. It still could get to a 4 or 5, but it would seem less likely given the conditions and the time of year.
I guess I need to go get some canned food. Get some meat and more Charcoal as well so I can cook and eat if the lights go out. I live in the 3rd floor of my apartment building near 249/Louetta. I wonder should I make plans to get out of town just in case?
18 inches in 24 hours would soak that bejeesus out of my plants... Time for the obligatory j/k and I guess I'm just glad I don't have to worry too much about this one nor do I have to worry about boarding up...again...
hey i stay in sw houston and i was wondering if this storm is actually headed towards houston, will we be affected in the sw?
I use this site for my weather needs: http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200518_5day.html
