Where will Rita go?

[crispini]

Well, where-ever she's going, she's gonna drop a lot of rain.

The computer models made a modest shift eastwards this morning, calling for a landfall between Galveston and the Texas/Louisiana border. The Hurricane Center shifted their landfall point as well, and now go with the model consensus. The models have been flip-flopping frequently, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that they will shift the landfall point 50 or so miles further west again this tonight. However, a landfall within 100 miles of Galveston seems to be the the best call. Landfall will still occur sometime Saturday, but this may be afternoon instead of morning, as the storm is moving slower than before.

Most of the models now indicate that steering currents will weaken and Rita will stall and sit in place for several days once it moves inland. This will result in severe flooding problems for wherever Rita stalls, as 10 - 30 inches of rain could fall in the affected region. As is usually the case when steering current get weak, the model forecasts of Rita's motion are highly unreliable. Rita may stall over the Dallas area, or central Louisiana, or Oklahoma or Arkansas. It's too early to tell. Finally, on Tuesday, Rita's remnants are forecast to lift out to the north.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

[daninthemoon]

1. Dodgeball

[PunkPop]

2. We need the rain

but not that much (Dallas/North Texas).

Maybe she'll just do an overniter - drop by, have a couple drinks, maybe rent a movie, then head out in the morning.

People are really freaking out though. I hear Costco is jam packed. Can it really wreak that much havoc this far inland?

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. Somebody just posted something saying...

it could still be a 1 by the time it gets here.

FWIW, they still had a few generators at the Home Depot at Coit and Campbell when I was there at lunch. (the $1200 models). I bought a little small Husky for $89. I just need to be able to plug in an area fan if the power goes or I'll keel over from the heat.

And they'd been restocking batteries since they opened.

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[moc]

9. Are you in Richardson? Me too.

Dh doesn't work on Fridays. I'm going to send him out scavenging. Do you think a generator is necessary? He thought I was overreacting by going out grocery shopping. The water shelves and much of the soft drink shelves at Walmart at Coit and Spring Creek were bare this evening.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. I actually live in Rowlett.

But work in the Telecom Corridor.

You may not need a generator, honestly.

But I have MS, and if the power goes out for any length of time, and the temperature doesn't come down much with the storm, I can't sit around sweating in the heat. Heat really exacerbates the symptoms, and I turn into a throbbing vegetable, and nearly pass out.

I just needed something small to be able to plug our little area fan into so I don't collapse from heatstroke.

You should be OK. :hi:
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[tammywammy]

4. Should we really stock up?

I mean, I have nothing. (I just moved to this place a month ago with zero, so a little more than zero right now).

I can hit my parents house, but I'm supposed to work Saturday until 6pm. I can get Saturday off b/c I have so many family members in town, should I?

[PunkPop]

5. IMHO, no

If you have 'nothing' I would certainly get 'something', but stocking up? There might be power outages and that could be a problem for people with special needs (medical conditions, senior citizens, etc...). But if you are a healthy individual there should be no problem getting the basic necessities for life.

In fact, right now it looks to be tracking east of the metroplex. That would mean we get the western side of the storm which is the weakest.

I don't understand why people think there could be enough widespread destruction in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to require stocking up or "hording" supplies.

[tammywammy]

6. Okay, thanks

That's what I was thinking.
I have bread, peanut butter and jelly, so I'm good on food. (plus other items too, but really sandwiches could feed me for 5 days right now).

Maybe I'll just turn on the ice maker in my freezer when I get home.

[Scooter24]

7. The only things

we bought were flashlights, batteries, and water. That's pretty much what everyone else in this area is buying.

Just being prepared for a power outage or if our water service is out. :)

[tammywammy]

8. Okay thanks.

I got the flashlight, but could probably just get a few extra batteries (which I need to buy anyways for my telephone). So sweet, I feel much better.

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. An easy and cheap thing to do is to fill up your tub.

or some small receptables (ice chests or such) with water.

Just in case there is any loss of water service, you'll still be able to flush!

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[TecnoCrat]

12. Checking the forecasts

The most up to date models have it coming ashore near Port Arthur, and sticking very close to the TX/LA border. Should reach near Texarkana on Sunday, and stall out there until Wednesday, when it dissipates.

I get paid to be up to date on these things, it's all I do all day.