[RITA] Storm in the Atlantic to Watch for Texans

I'm in Katy and plan on heading out just because of the power that will be going out, who knows how long it could take to get the power back up with this storm..

 

I live in the Meyer Park Lakeside apartments (formerly the Gables) if you are familiar with that area.

 

Category 5?

ACCUWEATHER THINKS AT LEAST A 4 AT LANDFALL...

Here's my bet of how things will look:

Hurricane Rita makes landfall just near San Luis Pass (or over Surfside) - basically take the 288 Expressway up at 145MPH.

This is serious stuff... I don't even want to think about damage.

 

It actually is one of the more unreliable this season. The GFDL has been the most accurate this year, but the best guage is actually the NHC guidance track. It tends to hedge against the outliers and find some common ground between those clustered tightly together.

So far, the NOGAPS has been consistently south of the guidance consensus and the BAM has been north.

 

Hope not...I can see 288 from the house. Jeepers!!

 

I HATE reports like that. There is no detail. Just a graphic. That's lame. To say "It will become a category 4" is just a ridiculous declaration if you are a scientist. You have to weigh the evidence and make predictions, but to say what he said is akin to someone claiming Yao will be a bust. It's hyperbole and it's irresponsible.

 

it's the GFS that scares the hell out of me.

 

I wouldn't piss off Radar if I were you, Jeff.

 

I bet UKMET and GFDL are close to where it will be...maybe a little south. I think it is moving faster now than people expected and will cause it to take a more southernly route. Right Jeff ?

 

All Kroger will be getting special orders of water and batteries, i just know that our manager got a jump on alot of the area ones, so in answer to you question i dont know.

 

Yeah I just heard the Kroger by my house (Copperfield area) is out of water and batteries. If it's bad there I KNOW it's bad in other places.

 

Actually, the four o'clock update is predicting it to be a low CAT 4 (or maybe I didn't fully understand your complaint).

 

Correct, I'm watching Ch2 news and they said the National Hurricane center or whatever is now predicting it become a Cat4 tomorrow and make landfall as a 4 late Friday, just south of Matagorda Bay. Not good for Houston.

 

yeah i just came from our local 99 cents only store and EVERYBODY was buying water.

 

CNN reports Hurricane Rita expected to reach Category 4 in the Gulf of Mexico by 2 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters say.

Galveston officials have ordered mandatory evacuations beginning Wednesday. Rita is now a Category 2 hurricane and it's picked up speed.

 

So the mayor is now asking for all east Harris county residents to evacuate? 1 million strong?

I bet somebody flips somebody else the bird on those roads. Atleast once.

 

I know it's still early, but it's now predicted to hit south of Galveston right?

 

I just moved into a house in Pearland by Green Tee, how would I know if I'm in a flood plain? Should I be thinking about leaving and boarding up my house?

 

I live about a mile from you in Pine Hollow Estates. Right now I'm planning to ride it out, but if they move the track back closer to Houston, that might change.

Speaking of the track, I haven't been able to stay on top of things as much as I'd like today. I just looked at the models on wonderground, and I noticed that the GFS and BAM medium are back over Galveston. How recent is that run?

 

I don't really know how to interpret these... but here are some flood plain maps for harris county...

http://www.dodson-hydro.com/efloodm...harris_county/small TN/select_by_zip_code.htm

Edit: Looks like I'm outside of one... whew.

Edit: The maps above are from 2000. Here's an updated one where you can search by addresses...

http://www.collinssoftware.com/web/Houston_TX.htm