Hurricane Rita.........

[Tree Machine]

Thursday morning. She is taking a slight turn upward, and although we still don't know the direct place of landfall, X does mark the spot.

A category 5 hasn't landed here in 105 years. That particular storm, over a century ago, is still the worst hurricane disaster on record. This storm is headed right where that storm of 1900 landed. It' so very important that this storm does not hit Galveston head-on. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

[Tree Machine]

Thursday afternoon. Weakened slightly, every little bit helps. She moves into the shallow warm waters of the Texas coast.

 

[Tree Machine]

Bad, very bad

Friday morning. This storm has got a LOT of people freakin out, and for very good reason. This is an extremely powerful storm, about to strike another highly sensitive coastal area.

The eye of the hurricane is better than a hundred kilometers (60 miles) across. We've been following this storm for 9 days, since it was born. She goes ashore this evening. I'll have more posts as the day goes on.

 

[Tree Machine]

Friday, Midday. The storm, as the north side contacts land is creating 'drag'. It hopefully will have an effect on weakening the storm, but not likely. What it has done is it's making the direction of travel of the eye slice to the right. This final hours effect will influence strongly where the hurricane comes ashore. This is all very good news for Galveston, though 100 Km north (60 miles), not such good news. The shift in 8 hours time has been dramatic. The eye is still very clear and present. If we're lucky, it will decay somewhat before before it hits land as a result of this present land effect coming from Louisiana. I don't consider this hurricane a 'head-on' hit like Katrina was. I think it will weaken.

 

[Tree Machine]

Friday midnight.

The eye has begun it's final demise. As it approaches shore, it is currently at Category 3. That right turn to the north I pointed out in the previous post has continued and it is clear it will make landfall right on the Texas / Louisiana state line.

This is incredibly good news. Galveston will be spared the brunt of the storm and Houston, with all it's refineries, will just be grazed. Louisiana, on the other hand, the west side of your state will take it on the chin.

 

[Tree Machine]

Coming ashore

Saturday morning, around 2 am. Rough night tonight. Still on the cusp of Category 3.

 

[Tree Machine]

6 am Saturday morning. Downgraded to category 2.

 

[Tree Machine]

Saturday Noon. Downgraded to Category 1.

 

[Tree Machine]

Final Report

Sunday, midday. Where I live, Indianapolis, Indiana, we are currently 'in the eye of the storm' (of course you know I'm joking). It is raining on and off, lightly. The leaves on the trees are hardly moving. It's peaceful. Rita's energy was dissipated through the southern states. The weather event, as a dangerous storm, is over.

It's time to clean up. Two threads to follow now are "Hurricane Clean-up" http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=24470 and "Recycling Katrina and Rita" http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=24942

Rita is over. This thread is now closed.