NEWS: Hurricane Katrina Data & Resources Thread

Has anyone read this statement from the national weather service, it the most dire warning I've ever seen.

Apologize for the long quote - its important people read this.

WWUS74 KLIX 281550
NPWLIX

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

.HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED
STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT
LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL
FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL.
PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD
FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE
BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME
WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A
FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH
AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE
WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN
AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING
INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY
THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW
CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE
KILLED.

NWS Warnings, third one down 10:11am

here's a link to buoys in the areas... one is showing waves currently at 20ft heights and a few aren't sending in any info
www.ndbc.noaa.gov...

Totally amazing...I've never seen a NHC warning using that type of language during my lifetime. I think this will be a terrible storm.

On the news right now, talk of damage so severe that rebuilding new orleans in a different location is a possibility. That is insane, unbelievable. Anyone know what the structural limits are on the superdome? People are using it for shelter, and I hope it can stand up to it.

Latest release says it's "Comparable to Hurricane Camille of 1969.. only bigger"

THE AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTERS JUST MEASURED A 166 KT FLIGHT LEVEL
WIND IN THE NORTHEAST EYEWALL...WHICH REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL UPWARD
ADJUSTMENT OF THE CURRENT INTENSITY TO 150 KT. A DROP IN THE EYE
GAVE A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 907 MB. KATRINA IS COMPARABLE IN
INTENSITY TO HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969...ONLY LARGER.

Latest Release with winds of 166kts

Hurricane Camille

Waiting for official VORTEX report from recon - unofficial word is central pressure is down to 901MB translating to surface winds above 190MPH

Will link when official data is posted.

Phoenix I am so glad you found that -- I just heard them read that advisory on the news and was shocked also and was looking for it to post here. This is a truly frightening storm no matter where it hits -- and right now it looks like it is still bearing down on New Orleans and if it doesn't change track soon NO will be getting the bad side of the storm too.

I really feel for tourists trapped there because the airlines have closed and they have no way out -- they are even going around and making people sign wavers if they are staying and not evacuating.

Like I said earlier when the Weather Channel people are planninng on leaving it is bad and when the American Red Cross is staying out of the area until the storm is passed it is really really bad -- they race towards disasters to set up before they are needed so when they are waiting they are expecting it to be horrific. Not a word I use lightly.

Originally posted by Phoenix
Waiting for official VORTEX report from recon - unofficial word is central pressure is down to 901MB translating to surface winds above 190MPH

Will link when official data is posted.

Where did you read this?

this info is from the recon flights, pressure is at 902mb, storm is intensifying again, surface winds are at 180mph sustained with obviously stronger gusts

Originally posted by worldwatcher
this info is from the recon flights, pressure is at 902mb, storm is intensifying again, surface winds are at 180mph sustained with obviously stronger gusts

Thanks WW, I guess what I was trying to ask for was the site for current recon info since the NOAA site is so slow to update.

They probably got the information from 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

Click here to learn how to read the data: Here

678
URNT12 KNHC 281825
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 28/1755Z
B. 26 DEG 20 MIN N
88 DEG 39 MIN W
C. 700 MB 2242 M
D. N/A
E. N/A
F. 140 DEG 160 KT
G. 050 DEG 22 NM
H. 902 MB
I. 14 C/ 3050 M
J. 29 C/ 3064 M
K. 6 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C25
N. 1234/7
O. 1/1 NM
P. NOAA3 1812A KATRINA OB 05
MAX FL WIND 160 KTS NE QUAD 1743Z
EXCELLENT RADAR PRESENTATION

[edit on 8/28/2005 by QuietSoul]

There is a bigger, scarier picture behind the destruction of New Orleans.

Mere miles from the city lies the crude import terminal that handles the biggest supertankers. It takes in fully one third of America's crude importants and transports them via 36 inch diameter overland pipes.

If that is destroyed Oil may surge towards $100/bbl.

Oh, and its floating too.

*gets his bike*

At this point I think the quote from the astronomer who finds the asteroid on Armageddon is in order...

"I wanna name her Dottie after my wife. She's a vicious life-sucking bitch from which there is no escape."

Originally posted by QuietSoul
They probably got the information from 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

Click here to learn how to read the data: Here

678
URNT12 KNHC 281825
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 28/1755Z
B. 26 DEG 20 MIN N
88 DEG 39 MIN W
C. 700 MB 2242 M
D. N/A
E. N/A
F. 140 DEG 160 KT
G. 050 DEG 22 NM
H. 902 MB
I. 14 C/ 3050 M
J. 29 C/ 3064 M
K. 6 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C25
N. 1234/7
O. 1/1 NM
P. NOAA3 1812A KATRINA OB 05
MAX FL WIND 160 KTS NE QUAD 1743Z
EXCELLENT RADAR PRESENTATION

[edit on 8/28/2005 by QuietSoul]

THANKS

Originally posted by Nerdling
There is a bigger, scarier picture behind the destruction of New Orleans.

Mere miles from the city lies the crude import terminal that handles the biggest supertankers. It takes in fully one third of America's crude importants and transports them via 36 inch diameter overland pipes.

If that is destroyed Oil may surge towards $100/bbl.

Oh, and its floating too.

*gets his bike*

To add a little here:


www.nola.com.../base/news-4/1125214634249320.xml

Also found the exact website for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, Inc. (LOOP)
www.dotd.louisiana.gov...

[edit on 8/28/2005 by QuietSoul]

[edit on 8/28/2005 by QuietSoul]

When I was in the coast Guard in the mid-70's we used to do storm patrol (this was in a rusty 327 footer built in the late 20's now sunken off Key west to make an artifical reef...the USCGC Duane 33) in 1975 we were southeast of Hatteras about this time of year and rode out and through a hurricane...we passed directly through the eye and it was the most amazing thing I had seen to date. The waters were at 15 to 20 ft steel gray waves, the sky directly above us was clear but we were surrounded about 5 or 10 miles away by a spinning wall of 20,000 ft black/gray storm clouds flashing lightening everywhere you looked. In all actuallyity being out at sea in it was far safer than being on land but still, it certianly didn't feel like it. The whole experince from outer edge to outer edge lasted about 18 hours but an incredible 18 hours and it was just a catagory 2 storm. Good luck New Orleans and Louisanna, our thoughts are with you.

Webcam image from the Causeway Bridge heading out of New Orleans.

Just a question, why are they not using the other lanes, what a waste of road space.

Originally posted by valkeryie
Just a question, why are they not using the other lanes, what a waste of road space.

There is still a decent amount of time to get people out, lines like those aid processing and decrease manpower needs.

nerdling . . . Way Above Vote!

An absolutely awesome post of critical and most relevant info!

Thank you!

Phoenix

Your post regarding the National Weather Service of New Orleans is incredible.

I normally look at these for the area in question as these storms approach. i.e. Florida, etc.

I can't recall EVER seeing a release with this type of specific wording.
[paraphrased]
For the most part total destruction!

I'm not anywhere near the Gulf Coast...thankfully... but my heart goes out to any and all that are.

As many have stated previously IF YOU CAN GET OUT, GET OUT . . . PLEASE!!

This is not one to stick around for.

All airlines have shut down so there will most likely be alot of stranded tourists. Officials are asking any remaing to seek shelter at least on 3rd floor or higher of buildings, but after seeing that National Weather Service release I don't see where any place is safe.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL.
PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD
FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE
BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME
WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A
FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH
AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE
WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

If there was no way to get out of the area before tomorrow a.m. I'd be headed for the Superdome and climbing into the rafters!