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09L: Hurricane Ike

Who has a link to the best storm surge maps for the Galveston, Houston / Freeport area? What is the current expected surge in this area? I last heard 20 to 25 ft with 20 ft waves. Can you concur?
 
It was mentioned on the channel 16 feed from Houston that only 60% of the occupants of Galveston have actually evacuated. :( This statistic came from an official press conference, I believe.

James
 
I'm on the Galveston seawall right now and the waves are insane! The winds are starting to pick up but the storm's core is still so far away, there's been almost no rain yet. The seawall road is basically impassable now due to debris and waves. I was hit by one so hard that my truck actually got pushed to the side.
 
Who has a link to the best storm surge maps for the Galveston, Houston / Freeport area? What is the current expected surge in this area? I last heard 20 to 25 ft with 20 ft waves. Can you concur?

galveston_mom3_hi.png


Not sure about the predicted/models, but the above graphic seems to allow you to approximate what Ike should bring.
 
Here is a link to the Storm surge maps..


http://www.noaawatch.gov/2008/ike.php

Latest IR imagery shows the cloud tops dramatically warming and coming down..also indicative on WV. Not sure if its a sign of weakening but its looks less impressive in that manner over the last couple hours..

It is starting to interact with land now too..
 
Fox just had a feed supplied by David D. and Steve Miller (tx) where Fox interviewed these people who own a bar on the seawall drive that is open and has about 20-25 people getting drunk and watching the waves crash in. The NWS guy who was also on said those people would be dead if they didnt leave. They didnt seem to heed that direct warning. Having a hurricane party is one thing but doing it right on the shore when they are expecting one of the worst surges in decades seems suicidal.

I know David and Steve and a few others are streaming live video on SevereStudios. I just hope they stick to plan and get their shots and then get out before they get cut off. I know they have a room in Houston for the night. I worry that entire island will be mostly gone by noon tomorrow. From what I read the officials will close the bridge once winds hit 45+.

EDIT.. JUst got a text from Steve. They plan on staying on Galveston Island. Steve says they have great shelter so I am hoping a very strong parking garage with at least 5 levels!!!! THey have supplies to last a week so being cut off isnt a worry.
 
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Reed recorded a gust of over 50 MPH a little while ago. It had calmed down slightly for a short time but it looks like it's blasting pretty hard again. ... I hope that report about the % of occupants that have evacuated is not correct. I had been wondering; that it came from an official press conference is troubling.
 
Here is a link to the Storm surge maps..


http://www.noaawatch.gov/2008/ike.php

Latest IR imagery shows the cloud tops dramatically warming and coming down..also indicative on WV. Not sure if its a sign of weakening but its looks less impressive in that manner over the last couple hours..

It is starting to interact with land now too..

True, but, deep convection is firing on the SW side of circulation which has been an issue for it today. It may be trying to develop an inner core, but its running out of time (thank god).
 
Yeah I saw that Bar...I assume they will get out of that Bar before it gets real bad..Remember what happened in '69 when some had a Camille party.


Edit..Yeah it is running out of time.. For a while it looked like a Hook echo supercell in reverse.
 
It was mentioned on the channel 16 feed from Houston that only 60% of the occupants of Galveston have actually evacuated. :( This statistic came from an official press conference, I believe.

James

If this is true, many will die... Getting drunk at a bar on the coast... outrageous!

I heard a report that several people were stranded on a bridge in Galveston. Has anyone heard of this? Supposedly two choppers have been sent from San Antonio for rescue purposes.
 
So, another observation that I have a question on. Officials are apparently sheltering at a very lage convention center, and news media folks are also there. One of the guys from channel 16 is standing at street level, and I believe the convention center is right behind him. He just made a comment that they are 25 feet above the 17 foot seawall, but I'm not sure that is the case looking at his video. Water is already almost to where he is, and the convention center doesn't look much higher than his location.

Does anyone have info on the convention center?

James
 
I'd be willing to lay good odds that at least a few of the folks getting drunk probably couldn't care less whether they live or not -- a past of DUIs and divorce; not suicidal, not wanting to live, but goshdarnit if they're going to bite the big one, they want to go out Margaritaville style.

I notice that the long range radar has that weird appearance where it looks like it's erring right. I called that out on Gustav, and it turns out that it was an illusion and the path ended up being squarely on the NHC track. Interesting that this is happening again... it must be some artifact with precipitation distribution or windflow in the upper levels of the storm.

Tim
 
It's looking A LOT more symmetrical IMO. Convection flares are now around the eye, including the SW side.

Yes. Much more symmetric and has an opaque eye now. I think the storm is certainly trying to gain strength, not that it matters much now. I don't see how anyone would stay on Galveston unless they were in a reinforced concrete high-rise building, but maybe that's just because I've never truly experienced a full blown hurricane.

Edit: TWC reporting that Surfside Beach, TX is now completely cut off due to the surge in advance of Ike... Incredible!
Also reporting a boat manufacturing facility is on fire somewhere near the Galveston area.
 
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Hmmm................Ok, I just saw Ike on radar at weathertap. Pardon me if I say that the big bad monster hurricane looks a tad small? I just expected it to appear wider on radar. Trust me I am going to sleep much easier tonight now after looking at the gulfs largest..err...smallest terror to hit the texas coast. Ok I am kidding. I am fully aware of the large and dangerous storm surge that may do considerable damage and potential take the lifes of the foolish and otherwise inebriated.
 
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