Growing Concern About Rita

Rita is still a tropical storm but she is already causing great concern about her future. It appears she will grow into a major hurricane after getting in the Gulf of Mexico.

Here is a link to all the latest advisories about her:

http://www.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.html

But here are some extra notes:

* She should pass very near Key West late Tuesday
* She will continue west and NW across the heart of the Gulf of Mexico
* NHC official track forecast suggests landfall early Saturday Upper Texas Coast
* Landfall could be near Galveston according to that
* That would, of course, spell trouble for Galveston-Houston
* But, other hurricane models shifted her landfall further northward (Scan down to the post by James Spann showing that)
* Some even point to the Louisiana Coast, one even directly at New Orleans
* At least one hints somewhere near the Mississippi-Alabama border
* Mandatory evacuations for the Florida Keys, including Key West
* Not much going on yet in South Florida These late morning spot reports:

Key West Airport...sunny, wind NE, gusts 23 mph
Miami...wind NE with gusts to 25
Everglades City...wind north, gusts 20

* Best information on future track, probably the official track forecast. However, an upper level low pressure through may enter the picture late this week. Which means what?
* It means that all possibilities must be considered.
* Will truly be a fingernail-biting week of watching and waiting.

Our posts are definately not intended to alwarm you. Instead our goal in life is to keep you informed as well as possible.

Life goes on...