Hurricane Katrina to possibly become a Cat 4

[Dark Knight]

Is it usual to also post tornado watches with a hurricane?
http://www.fox8live.com/www/Weather/Weather.aspx

There were tornado warnings earlier. Yes, tornadoes happen with hurricanes. Especially relating to the outside bands of the storm, which are basically just severe thunderstorms, which is also, basically, what a hurricane is, a mass of severe thunderstorms rotating around a vortex, at first.

 

[Liz]

More than two keep praying. The predictions are 50,000 deaths. This is beyond horrible, keep praying all through the night.

I'm still at it, concernedperson! I'll be praying alot tonight!

 

[Buzz Mills]

HURRICANE KATRINA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 25B
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005

...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA BEGINNING TO TURN
NORTHWARD TOWARD SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AND THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST...
...SUSTAINED HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS OCCURRING ALONG THE
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA COAST...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST
FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA
BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.
PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO
COMPLETION.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FROM
EAST OF THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER TO DESTIN FLORIDA...AND FROM
WEST OF MORGAN CITY TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FROM DESTIN FLORIDA
EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS FLORIDA...AND FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY
LOUISIANA WESTWARD TO CAMERON LOUISIANA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 2 AM CDT...0700Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 28.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.6 WEST OR ABOUT
70 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
AND ABOUT 130 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA.

KATRINA IS NOW MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 12 MPH. THIS MOTION IS
FORECAST TO CONTINUE TODAY WITH A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD
SPEED. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT
AND ON TUESDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE
WILL BE VERY NEAR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST LATER THIS MORNING.
HOWEVER... CONDITIONS ARE GRADUALLY DETERIORATING ALONG PORTIONS OF
THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF COAST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO
WORSEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 155 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
KATRINA IS NOW A STRONG CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY
PRIOR TO LANDFALL...BUT KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AS
EITHER A CATEGORY FOUR OR POSSIBLY A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE.
WINDS AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS WILL BE
SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.

KATRINA REMAINS A VERY LARGE HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. DURING THE PAST HOUR...A WIND
GUST TO 83 MPH WAS REPORTED FROM A UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI BUOY LOCATED JUST EAST OF THE CHANDELEUR ISLANDS...A
GUST TO 75 MPH WAS REPORTED AT GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA...AND A WIND
GUST TO 60 MPH WAS REPORTED IN NEW ORLEANS.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE
RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 910 MB...26.87 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 28 FEET...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS
BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE
CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. SOME LEVEES IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA
COULD BE OVERTOPPED. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL OCCUR
ELSEWHERE ALONG THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST.
NOAA BUOY 42040 LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES EAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER RECENTLY REPORTED WAVES HEIGHTS OF AT LEAST 40
FEET.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF
15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF KATRINA ACROSS THE GULF
COAST AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES
REGION TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

THE TORNADO THREAT AHEAD OF KATRINA IS INCREASING AND SCATTERED
TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY OVER SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA...
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHERN ALABAMA...AND OVER THE FLORIDA
PANHANDLE TONIGHT.

REPEATING THE 2 AM CDT POSITION...28.2 N... 89.6 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTH NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...155 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 910 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
AT 4 AM CDT.

FORECASTER STEWART

 

[Magnum PI]

There were tornado warnings earlier. Yes, tornadoes happen with hurricanes. Especially relating to the outside bands of the storm, which are basically just severe thunderstorms, which is also, basically, what a hurricane is, a mass of severe thunderstorms rotating around a vortex, at first.

Thanks for your coverage, and the fact you are interested in this at all. Most of us don't get interested until it is too late...and then panic or be real stupid.(got some funny ones for you if this thing ever passes)....mpi

 

[Buzz Mills]

Local Bulletin for Lake Charles, LA

HURRICANE KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
201 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005

...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO
APPROACH THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...

...SUSTAINED HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS NEARING THE SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
COAST...

...A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA
EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...

...AREAS AFFECTED IN SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...
THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO THE RESIDENTS IN CAMERON...VERMILION...
IBERIA...LAFAYETTE...SAINT MARTIN...SAINT MARY...AVOYELLES...AND
SAINT LANDRY PARISHES...

...WATCHES/WARNING...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SAINT MARY PARISH. A HURRICANE
WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED INSIDE THE
WARNED AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY SHOULD ALREADY BE COMPLETED.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FROM
WEST OF MORGAN CITY TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA INCLUDING
VERMILION AND IBERIA PARISH. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED INSIDE THE WARNED AREA WITHIN
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT
HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE INSIDE THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY
WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FROM WEST OF INTRACOASTAL
CITY TO CAMERON LOUISIANA INCLUDING CAMERON PARISH. .

AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM MONDAY
FOR AVOYELLES...SAINT LANDRY...SAINT MARTIN AND LAFAYETTE PARISHES.
AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INLAND ACROSS THE WARNED AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING TO MONDAY EVENING
FOR IBERIA...SAINT MARY...AND SAINT MARTIN PARISHES. THREE TO FIVE
INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THIS AREA THROUGH MONDAY EVENING
WHICH WILL CAUSE THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AREAS.

...STORM INFORMATION...UPDATED
AT MIDNIGHT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 27.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.5 WEST...OR ABOUT 168 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA.

KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...AND A
GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.
ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE NEAR THE NORTHERN
GULF COAST EARLY MONDAY. HOWEVER...CONDITIONS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING
TO DETERIORATE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF
COAST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN THROUGH THE NIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 160 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
KATRINA IS A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH IS LIKELY UNTIL
LANDFALL. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY FOUR OR
FIVE.

KATRINA IS A LARGE HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...WINDS GREATER
THAN 74 MPH...EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS...WINDS GREATER THAN 39 MPH...EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. A WIND GUST TO 98 MPH WAS RECENTLY REPORTED
FROM SOUTHWEST PASS LOUISIANA.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 908 MB...26.81 INCHES. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING KATRINA.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
RESIDENTS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD ALREADY BE PREPARED FOR
THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF A NEARBY LANDFALLING MAJOR HURRICANE. THE
POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR DAMAGING WINDS...HIGH STORM SURGE...AND VERY
HEAVY RAINFALL. HOWEVER AT THIS TIME...MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS
ARE NOT IN EFFECT FOR ANY PORTION OF SOUTHWEST OR SOUTH-CENTRAL
LOUISIANA.

...TORNADO IMPACTS...
THE MAIN TORNADO THREAT WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
HOWEVER...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS
SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
TIDES ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING ABOUT ONE FOOT ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE
COAST. KATRINA IS STILL FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL JUST EAST OF GRAND
ISLE LOUISIANA. DEPENDING ON THE EXACT TRACK...A STORM SURGE OF 3 TO
5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE
ATCHAFALAYA RIVER. TIDAL SURGE WILL DECREASE TO 1 TO 2 FEET NEAR
SABINE AND CALCASIEU PASSES.

...WIND IMPACTS...UPDATED
ACROSS THE LOWER ATCHAFALAYA BASIN...NORTHEAST WINDS HAVE ALREADY
INCREASED TO 15 TO 25 MPH. SUSTAINED WINDS WILL FURTHER INCREASE TO
20 TO 40 MPH BY 3 AM WITH HIGHER GUSTS IN RAIN SQUALLS...THEN 45 TO
65 MPH TOWARD SUNRISE ON MONDAY. GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE WILL BE
POSSIBLE IN THE MORGAN CITY...STEPHENSVILLE AND AMELIA AREA MONDAY
MORNING. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE
REMAINDER OF THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN UP TO HENDERSON AND ACROSS
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AS FAR WEST AS CAMERON.

BASED ON THE EXPECTED WIND SPEEDS AND THE NUMEROUS TREES ACROSS THE
LOWER ATCHAFALAYA BASIN...RESIDENTS IN THESE REGIONS ARE URGED TO BE
CAREFUL OF FALLING TREES. REMEMBER...MOST OF THE DEATHS CAUSED BY
KATRINA AS IT CROSSED SOUTH FLORIDA WERE CAUSED BY FALLING TREES.

ON THE COASTAL WATERS NEAR VERMILION AND ATCHAFALAYA BAYS...
NORTHEAST WINDS WERE RUNNING 25 TO 35 KNOTS AROUND 2 AM THIS MORNING.
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 45 TO 55 KNOTS...WITH GUSTS TO HURRICANE
FORCE...WILL SPREAD OVER THE COASTAL WATERS NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE
ATCHAFALAYA AROUND SUNRISE ON MONDAY WITH SEAS UP TO 15 FEET.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO
25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH BY MID-MONDAY MORNING. WIND SPEEDS
ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION WILL BE DECREASING BY MONDAY EVENING.

...RAINFALL...
HEAVY RAINS FROM KATRINA WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE COASTAL PARISHES
OF SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA LATE THIS EVENING. RAINFALL TOTALS FROM
3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAINT MARY AND
SAINT MARTIN PARISHES WHICH MAY CAUSE SOME FLOODING...WHILE RAINFALL
TOTALS FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AROUND THE REST OF THE
VERMILION BAY REGION AND THE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN.
THE HEAVY RAINS WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF MONDAY EVENING.

LESSER RAINFALL AMOUNTS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

 

[Magnum PI]

There were tornado warnings earlier. Yes, tornadoes happen with hurricanes. Especially relating to the outside bands of the storm, which are basically just severe thunderstorms, which is also, basically, what a hurricane is, a mass of severe thunderstorms rotating around a vortex, at first.

It is, right now, errie and calm, like calm before the storm..I am back home now, had to get to my cats. I think I am Ok where I am, (wish I had my GPS or something..) my main concern is tornadoes because they always come this way. Not to mention that everything around here was built 100 years ago..mpi

 

[pjop]

I am at work and cannot get live video so I'm searching to try and get updates on the hurricane and never even thought to look at WS..just stumbled upon this thread. I appreciate any info anyone can give..those of you who are watching it on TV. (I read here frequently but don't post).

Thanks!!!

 

[mysteriew]

It is, right now, errie and calm, like calm before the storm..I am back home now, had to get to my cats. I think I am Ok where I am, (wish I had my GPS or something..) my main concern is tornadoes because they always come this way. Not to mention that everything around here was built 100 years ago..mpi

Are you in Louisana?

 

[Nore]

I am at work and cannot get live video so I'm searching to try and get updates on the hurricane and never even thought to look at WS..just stumbled upon this thread. I appreciate any info anyone can give..those of you who are watching it on TV. (I read here frequently but don't post).

Thanks!!!

--------

Hi pjop,it is bearing down on LA right now.N O. is head on.I believe he said it is now cat.4 but that is still serious.It sounds as though the East side of the storm hits worse.I'm in Ohio so more familiar to tornadoes and snowstorms.Tail end~sounds like they are worried about the SuperDome....They still have power in Sd..barometer is very low. Take care.

 

[mysteriew]

They are describing the hurricane as catastrophic, on the TV. Say that it is the kind of storm you will only see once in a lifetime. Adding to the hurricane worries- is the fear of flooding. New Orleans looks like a direct strike. It sits in a bowl, they don't think the levee's are high enough and fear that either the lake or the river (or both) will end up in the city.

 

[mysteriew]

I am watching a webcam, and the streets are practically deserted. No traffic.
Contributing to the fear of the wind and storm, there is the chemical plants, oil plants, the fact that rats and snakes will be looking for the same high ground that the people want, burials there are above ground- so there is fear of bodies getting loose.

 

[mysteriew]

Besides water stagnating, after the storm, there will be mesquitoes, rabies bred in the warm standing water and humid air.
They keep showing the mayor on the TV. He sounds like someone you would see at the movies. He is not giving the usual "we will be, ok" he is saying things like we have to listen when the weather people say that the storm is catastrophic. He says he has never heard them describe any other storm in the terms they are using for this one.

 

[mysteriew]

Cincy area Red Cross has already sent people to Ala. to be ready to go in after the storm. Our electric company is evaluating how large a group to send (they have a disaster team that goes to disasters in other states).

 

[pjop]

Sounds pretty bad. Thanks to both of you for the updates. I get off at 7 so I'll be able to see what's going on then. Thanks a lot. Feel free to post more if you're up to it. I'll be here reading.

 

[aussieblue]

Is there anyone on this board in the local area of Baton Rogue???????
OR is there anyone who knows that area and how it will be effected by this hurricane.

I ask because i have friends who live there in that area and im worried about them.
I have sooooooooo many maps/links/web/media articles etc up (on my computer) that my head is spinning with all these unfamiliar names/abbrev etc

They live about an hour from New Orleans (inland towards Baton Rogue) I keep reading articles about the evacuations and they state "Parish". I dont know their Parish and BTW whats a Parish anyway?????????

Please can anyone help, Im getting so confused and very worried.

Thanks
aussieblue

 

[mysteriew]

The parish is another word for county. What city does your friend live in? Or what is the nearest city. I am from Ohio, but will do what I can.

 

[mysteriew]

another poster is from Baton Rouge I think. She hasn't been evac'ed. Many of the New Orleans people are being evac'ed to Baton Rouge. New Orleans is the biggest concern- they are below sea level.

 

[mysteriew]

Kgeaux is from Baton Rouge. She posted in this thread yesterday. She gave a little bit of details about what is happening in Baton Rouge. http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=784301#post784301

 

[aussieblue]

The parish is another word for county. What city does your friend live in? Or what is the nearest city. I am from Ohio, but will do what I can.

Ok thank you mysteriew .... parish=county = what we call "shire", I think.

They live in Holden which is (on a map lol to the right of Baton Rogue)
Im trying to find their Parish, every place i go (web) i need to be a member or i end up at the wrong Holden.

Im thinking the Parish could be "Livingston"???? because it comes up Holden Livingston United States, on msn maps BUT when i sent them packages I didnt use Livingston in their address. So very confused here (as usual).

Holden doesnt even show on many maps.

Thanks for any help you can give me

~aussieblue

 

[pjop]

I put in Holden, LA in maps.com and what they show is Livingston Co. which is east of Baton Rouge which is closer to New Orleans than Baton Rouge.