Tropical Storm Rita continues to intensify and, according to the 2 pm, EDT advisory she is almost a hurricane. Sustained winds were 70 mph.
She coud become a hurricane at any minute. 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 although brisk east and NE winds are increasing, gusting to around 30 mph around 2 pm.
* 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.
She coud become a hurricane at any minute. 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 although brisk east and NE winds are increasing, gusting to around 30 mph around 2 pm.
* 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.