WRAPUP 5-Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with wall of water

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

*Ike expected to make landfall late Friday, early Saturday

*Could land as Category 3 storm with 20-foot storm surge

*Refineries at risk, but oil prices dip below $100/barrel

By Tim Gaynor

GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday, pushing a wall of water that weather officials warned could be fatal for those who didn't flee inland.

Waters rose rapidly as Ike moved within hours of striking low-lying areas near Houston with a possible 20-foot (6-meter) storm surge in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.

The National Weather Service warned that people in coastal areas could "face the possibility of death" from a massive storm surge. Although Ike is weaker than 2005's Hurricane Katrina, the last storm to pummel a U.S. urban area, its large scope gives it more water-moving power.

Ike was a Category 2 storm with 105 mph (165 kph) winds as it moved on a course to pass directly over Houston -- the nation's fourth-largest city.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1235585020080912?sp=true

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Stay safe, everyone!

:scared:

[pleah]

1. I just saw on the news that Galveston island could be completely covered with water.

Highway 90 on the gulf coast of MS is already closed because of the serge.

That's how big this storm is.

Plese be safe everyone.

[kurt_cagle]

2. This may be a stupid question, but ...

why is the price of oil continuing to fall in the face of a hurricane that's likely to take 15-20% of the gasoline processing offline for months at a minimum?

[bryanccfshr]

4. Price of oil

The price of oil dropping is based on the commodities market not on finished gasoline. Finished gasoline prices are expected to rise based on a temporary shortage in supply due to the production disruption. When refining is back to 100% expect an equilibrium in both markets to be met as oil demand increases to make up the deficit in gasoline supply.

My sister lives in Dickinson so She and her my brother in law and my Nephew are now residing down in Alice Texas. My Parents live down on North Padre and are pretty much in the clear now. Best wishes to anyone affected.

[Ghost Dog]

3. Latest from Jeff Masters (Weather Underground):

Hurricane Ike is closing in on Texas, and stands poised to become one of the most damaging hurricanes of all time. Despite Ike's rated Category 2 strength, the hurricane is much larger and more powerful than Category 5 Katrina or Category 5 Rita. The storm surge from Ike could rival Katrina's, inundating a 200-mile stretch of coast from Galveston to Cameron, Louisiana with waters over 15 feet high. This massive storm surge is due to the exceptional size of Ike. According to the latest wind field estimate (Figure 1), the diameter of Ike's tropical storm and hurricane force winds are 550 and 240 miles, respectively. For comparison, Katrina numbers at landfall were 440 and 210 miles, respectively. As I discussed in yesterday's blog entry, a good measure of the storm surge potential is Integrated Kinetic Energy (IKE). Ike continues to grow larger and has intensified slightly since yesterday, and the hurricane's Integrated Kinetic Energy has increased from 134 to 149 Terajoules. This is 30% higher than Katrina's total energy at landfall. All this extra energy has gone into piling up a vast storm surge that will probably be higher than anything in recorded history along the Texas coast. Storm surge heights of 20-25 feet are possible from Galveston northwards to the Louisiana border. The Texas storm surge record is held by Hurricane Carla of 1961. Carla was a Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds at landfall, and drove a 10 foot or higher storm surge to a 180-mile stretch of Texas coast. A maximum storm surge of 22 feet was recorded at Port Lavaca, Texas.

/... http://espanol.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1082&tstamp=200809

[UpInArms]

5. I sure hope everyone is buttoned down tight

down there

:grouphug:

[Catbird]

6. Too dangerous to stay.

I hope everyone is buttoned down and snug SOMEPLACE ELSE.

[Hugabear]

7. Ike's IKE continues to grow...

You know you're in the shit when Ike brings his twin brother IKE.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. Live satellite feed from Galveston. Right here:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/texas-news-coverage-hurricane-ike