She now has sustained winds of 85 mph. The eye of Rita will move west passing between Key West and the north coast of Cuba this afternoon.
Check this link for all the basic information on Rita. That way, we don't have to repeat so much information which will save you some reading and scanning time.
http://www.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.html
Some extra notes:
* She will continue westward through the heart of the Gulf of Mexico. The official NHC track forecast takes her inland on the Texas Coast very early Saturday morning. That is nearly four days away, so there could be changes.
* Other tropical models agree with the NHC track that Rita will avoid the Alabama-Mississippi-Louisiana Coast. However, the "cone of concern" does include the Louisiana Coast which means they are not totally out of danger.
* She has picked up forward speed, now averaging 15 mph.
HOW RECEPTIVE IS THE GULF OF MEXICO?
The welcome mat is out, especially as far as sea surface temperatures are concerned. The Gulf has recovered from upwelling due to Katrina. (Upwelling means that the ocean waters were shook up so much that cooler water from down below came to the surface) The average water temperature all across the Gulf is close to 85 degrees. However, the West Gulf has not been disturbed by major hurricanes this season--thus not much upwelling. Late this morning, the water temperature at the port Aransas Buoy was 86 and, closer in to the coast, it was 87. Like apple pie and ice cream for hurricanes.
NOON SPOT REPORTS (EDT)
Fort Meyers...cloudy, wind NE, gusts 35
Everglades City...wind north, gusts 35
Miami...steady driving rain, wind east 28, gusts 44
Marathon...rain, wind east 33, gusts 49
Key West International Airport...cloudy, wind north 44, gusts 56
Sombrero Key...wind ENE 58, gusts 62 (gusts to 72 earlier)
All wind speeds MPH
DOWN THE ROAD
Models suggest Rita will move NNW after landfall on the Texas Coast heading generally toward the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Wichita Falls. Big rain producer for them. Some of the information that weather people consider, but don't always take to the bank, suggests that Rita could dump as much as 12 inches of rain along the Central Texas Coast.
And, oh yes, the usual threat of spinoff tornadoes so common with a landfalling hurricane.
Look for a comprehensive discussion of all of this from James Spann here on the blog later this afternoon.
Check this link for all the basic information on Rita. That way, we don't have to repeat so much information which will save you some reading and scanning time.
http://www.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.html
Some extra notes:
* She will continue westward through the heart of the Gulf of Mexico. The official NHC track forecast takes her inland on the Texas Coast very early Saturday morning. That is nearly four days away, so there could be changes.
* Other tropical models agree with the NHC track that Rita will avoid the Alabama-Mississippi-Louisiana Coast. However, the "cone of concern" does include the Louisiana Coast which means they are not totally out of danger.
* She has picked up forward speed, now averaging 15 mph.
HOW RECEPTIVE IS THE GULF OF MEXICO?
The welcome mat is out, especially as far as sea surface temperatures are concerned. The Gulf has recovered from upwelling due to Katrina. (Upwelling means that the ocean waters were shook up so much that cooler water from down below came to the surface) The average water temperature all across the Gulf is close to 85 degrees. However, the West Gulf has not been disturbed by major hurricanes this season--thus not much upwelling. Late this morning, the water temperature at the port Aransas Buoy was 86 and, closer in to the coast, it was 87. Like apple pie and ice cream for hurricanes.
NOON SPOT REPORTS (EDT)
Fort Meyers...cloudy, wind NE, gusts 35
Everglades City...wind north, gusts 35
Miami...steady driving rain, wind east 28, gusts 44
Marathon...rain, wind east 33, gusts 49
Key West International Airport...cloudy, wind north 44, gusts 56
Sombrero Key...wind ENE 58, gusts 62 (gusts to 72 earlier)
All wind speeds MPH
DOWN THE ROAD
Models suggest Rita will move NNW after landfall on the Texas Coast heading generally toward the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Wichita Falls. Big rain producer for them. Some of the information that weather people consider, but don't always take to the bank, suggests that Rita could dump as much as 12 inches of rain along the Central Texas Coast.
And, oh yes, the usual threat of spinoff tornadoes so common with a landfalling hurricane.
Look for a comprehensive discussion of all of this from James Spann here on the blog later this afternoon.
on September 20, 2005, 11:31 am
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