Right to anyone near this thing, get the fuck out of its way. This is a true nightmare storm. Take the worst hurricane you have experienced and make it a lot worse and that katrina. This is VERY VERY bad, I was right about it hitting cat 5 and it looks like it will hot sub 900 pressure making it possible the most powerful hurricane ever measured.
Hurricane Katrina Thread: Any LA Gaffers?
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Torquill
Member
I'm in Baton Rouge. I've pretty much stopped caring about hurricanes cause we haven't had a real hit here in over 10 years, but this one looks like it might nail us.
Actually, at the moment, the Mississippi is at an almost historic low according to The Weather Channel, so that's a nice coincidence. They're more worried about storm surge from Lake Ponchatrain at this point.
TheKingsCrown
Banned
You are absolutely right, we do measure strength of storms via wind speed and pressure. However, the dvorak technique outlined here demonstrates an explicit way to test a storms strength via satellite and one that has had some success. When I originally made that post, Katrina's eye wall was ragged and so was her convection. It didn't support that jump in winds quite yet on satellite. I was saying that it was possible for the National Hurricane Center to make an anticipatory adjustment to Katrina's winds in order to demonstrate its power. I wouldn't necessarily put it past the politics of centers like that.
All that said, Katrina is now a monster Cat 5 with 160 winds. It is rare for a hurricane to maintain that strength for long, so New Orleans or wherever it hits might luck out (especially since there may be indications that convection is decreasing on satellite). However, it looks perfect on visible satellite and even may have had a double eye wall for a time. As a precaution, many many people should be evacuating ahead of this beast.
Smiles and Cries
Member
can't believe this thing crossed southern florida went over land and still became a cat 5!
damn
damn
Guileless
Temp Banned for Remedial Purposes
Unbelievable, I'm supposed to move right to the "Tue." dot on Scalemail Ted's chart on Tuesday next week. That problem pales in comparison to coastal residents in the path of this monster though.
The utility of having a port at the mouth of the Mississippi outweighs the risk of hurricanes. And there is no "bumpkinville" along the coast of Mississippi. It's valuable, developed real estate surrounded by population centers employed at the casinos, restaurants, and resorts along the coast. Not as many as in New Orleans, but it's not Mayberry.
The utility of having a port at the mouth of the Mississippi outweighs the risk of hurricanes. And there is no "bumpkinville" along the coast of Mississippi. It's valuable, developed real estate surrounded by population centers employed at the casinos, restaurants, and resorts along the coast. Not as many as in New Orleans, but it's not Mayberry.
TheKingsCrown
Banned
You don't know how right you are. The thing that a lot of people forget about hurricanes is that when a weather service reports a wind of 160 MPH, that is a SUSTAINED wind. That differs from a gust in that a sustained wind blows at that speed for up to 60 seconds at a time, as opposed to a gust which happens in something more of an instant. It sounds like a small difference, but when you experience it, it is like a whole other world. The atmosphere around you is completely ominous and you quickly exit your comfort zone because nothing seems constant. With a storm this strong, such a change could bring panic...and panic is the last thing one wants to do in the face of this monster.
andthebeatgoeson
Junior Member
Where's that bail out pic?
TheKingsCrown
Banned
I am shocked. While the Central Dense Overcast appears to be decreasing on satellite, the hurricane is still strengthening. 175 MPH now. That is...UNHEARD OF as a landfall in modern times. People need to leave.
Phoenix
Member
I just talked to most of my folks and they are all either out of the city or finishing boarding up to leave the city. This storm is going to be very nasty given its proximity to New Orleans whether or not the eye comes over it or not - there is no longer any question that anyone who can get out, should be out. Category 5 + 175mph winds + New Orleans/Gulf Coast do not mix. There are entire ships on the gulf coast that are several miles inland from hurricanes like this. The area of Louisiana where it is expected to his is low so you won't get the same effect as when it comes ashore in Florida, it will be much more severe in all the low areas.
The biggest concern is that people saw it YESTERDAY as a Category 3, and you can ride out a category 3. Today its a steadily increasing category 5, but its also not a long time from landfall so many of the people who might want to still get out are stuck because you just cannot get out... at least not quickly.
If you can get out and can make your way to Atlanta but need somewhere to stay, send me a PM - I'll put you up. But don't try ride this one out.
The biggest concern is that people saw it YESTERDAY as a Category 3, and you can ride out a category 3. Today its a steadily increasing category 5, but its also not a long time from landfall so many of the people who might want to still get out are stuck because you just cannot get out... at least not quickly.
If you can get out and can make your way to Atlanta but need somewhere to stay, send me a PM - I'll put you up. But don't try ride this one out.
I'm watching CNN and there's showing live pics of interstates/highways. They are bumper to bumper...
But what I don't understand is that the other side is pratically empty. They should open the other side for out only. Perhaps leave one lane for the original direction.
But what I don't understand is that the other side is pratically empty. They should open the other side for out only. Perhaps leave one lane for the original direction.
TheKingsCrown
Banned
Where did you see that?
Shawnwhann
Banned
Hurricane Katrina is officially a category five hurricane with winds hitting 175 mph.
It you are in L.A., word is to head north or west.
I have an ominous feeling about tonight, but I will keep the people of L.A. in my prayers.
It you are in L.A., word is to head north or west.
I have an ominous feeling about tonight, but I will keep the people of L.A. in my prayers.
SolidSnakex
Member
teh_pwn said:
As far as hurricanes go, hitting NO is the most vulnerable place. They mentioned earlier that it'd be like a strong earthquake happening San Francisco.
Shawnwhann
Banned
Do you know offhand what type of catastrophic effects that hurricane caused? Can we expect the same type of effects this time? Elevation differences play a role in this right?
News coverage is not giving perspective on this hurricane from what I am watching.
My GAWD! I've been interested in hurricanes since Gilbert in 1988.
Gilbert was a Cat 5 but only in the carribean and when it hit mexico.
this Katrina is already approaching Gilbert in windspeed and pressure. but unlike Gilbert this one might actually hit New Orleans as a Cat 5..... it could be worse than Camile in '69.
hopefully Katrina will act like Hurricane Opal of 1995,.... Opal was a Cat 5 but then quickly weakened to Cat 3 as it hit the U.S...
I'm in shock because Catrina was a mere tropical storm over the bahamas.. usually these things form into hurricanes alot farther south and further out in the Atlantic.
Gilbert was a Cat 5 but only in the carribean and when it hit mexico.
this Katrina is already approaching Gilbert in windspeed and pressure. but unlike Gilbert this one might actually hit New Orleans as a Cat 5..... it could be worse than Camile in '69.
hopefully Katrina will act like Hurricane Opal of 1995,.... Opal was a Cat 5 but then quickly weakened to Cat 3 as it hit the U.S...
I'm in shock because Catrina was a mere tropical storm over the bahamas.. usually these things form into hurricanes alot farther south and further out in the Atlantic.
Hmmm...
Wikipedia is saying that the Florida Keys Hurricane (a.k.a. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935) had max sustained winds of 160 mph.
Guess Katrina is the strongest hurricane on record, measured by wind speeds.
EDIT: N/M Camille had winds of 190 mph; and Gilbert had 195.
I totally forgot about those :lol
Wikipedia is saying that the Florida Keys Hurricane (a.k.a. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935) had max sustained winds of 160 mph.
Guess Katrina is the strongest hurricane on record, measured by wind speeds.
EDIT: N/M Camille had winds of 190 mph; and Gilbert had 195.
I totally forgot about those :lol
Heh, I actually got caught in Opal. I was on a trip in Houston and was supposed to go deep-sea fishing. :|xexex said:
The mayor of NO is expecting it will take over 2 weeks to pump the water out. He also said NO produces ~25% of domestic oil, and that he expects prices to significantly rise (>$1.00) in the next week if the city remains shutdown.
TheKingsCrown
Banned
No. I believe Hurricane Mitch in 1998 went from a 100 mph hurricane to a 180 mph hurricane in 36 hours. I'm not sure on my facts though. Mitch is the only monster to which this hurricane can be compared.
I still don't understand how that hurricane is spitting 175 mph winds. Maybe the circulation is really tight, but its convection (thunderstorms) just don't support that speed.
StarscreamLSU
Member
I'm in Baton Rouge, but most of my family is in New Orleans. My grandfather and uncle evacuated yesterday and are staying with me. My parents were going to ride it out, but when that thing exploded this morning, they got out of town.
Amazing--I have family in Florida, and when a hurricane comes near them they usually call me to mention it. Katrina didn't even merit a phone call from my parents, and now it's turned into a Category 5.
I loved the city of New Orleans during the week I spent there a few years ago--the people and the culture make it one of my favorite cities in America. My prayers are with anyone who's in the path of this storm.
I loved the city of New Orleans during the week I spent there a few years ago--the people and the culture make it one of my favorite cities in America. My prayers are with anyone who's in the path of this storm.
Phoenix
Member
Well the people in the city aren't SOL. The New Orleans Superdome is one of the country's largest shelters and the city will set up pick-up points for people who don't have cars but are still within harms way. The superdome is a tough structure and can accomodate a large number of people, so even in the worst case scenario - any stragglers or those who just couldn't get out will at least be in a safe place.
A little bit of good news. This was on WWLTV Channel 4.
A low pressure disturance/ripple whatever has been detected over the South Eastern (NO/Lake Ponchatrain) area of Louisiana. The storm made a nudge to the East, so all we can do is pray that the low pressure ripple keeps on steering the eye of the storm away from the NO area. We would still get blasted, but avoiding a direct hit only helps....
A low pressure disturance/ripple whatever has been detected over the South Eastern (NO/Lake Ponchatrain) area of Louisiana. The storm made a nudge to the East, so all we can do is pray that the low pressure ripple keeps on steering the eye of the storm away from the NO area. We would still get blasted, but avoiding a direct hit only helps....
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