As always, we recommend this link for all the basic data on Rita, including all the advisories, discussions, radar links, satellite links, etc.
http://www.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.html
But here is Rita in a nutshell:
LOCATION
Near latitude 24.4 N, longitude 86.8 W, or about 600 miles ESE of Galveston and about 700 miles EST of Corpus Christi.
WINDS
Sustained to 165 mph with higher gusts. This makes Rita an extremely dangerous Category 5. Hurricane force winds extend out 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend out up to 175 miles making Rita not only a super powerful hurricane, but a very large one.
PRESSURE
It has been falling rapidly during the day and is now down to 914 mb or 26.99 inches.
OTHER NOTES
* A Hurricane Watch now in effect along the Gulf Coast from Port Mansfield, Texas north and east to Cameron, Louisiana.
* Rita was moving toward the west about 13 mph.
* Late this afternoon, a hurricane hunter dropped an instrument package down through the hurricane and discovered one peak wind gust to 198 mph, however, that was not at the surface.
* Rita will become a historic hurricane unless something unforeseen happens. Landfall is expected on the central part of the Texas Gulf coast very early Saturday. Damage may be of catastrophic proportions even though she may weaken a bit before landfall.
* Satellite photographs of Rita are classic. They will surely wind up in meteorology text books at some time in the future.
* Late this afternoon, some data buoys south of the Louisiana coast were reporting winds near tropical storm force.
* As the storm gets closer to land, we will start including some spot reports from buoys and land stations, especially along the Texas and Louisiana coast.
GULF COAST IMPACTS
GULF SHORES
No real strong winds expected. Over the next couple of days east winds will be generally 15 to 25 mph. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect due to water piling up along the coast from the brisk easterly winds. Scattered showers and thunderstorms starting tomorrow and extending into the weekend--about a 50 percent chance each day.
GULFPORT/BILOXI
Showers and thunderstorms becoming more numerous Friday and Saturday and especially on Sunday. No unusually strong winds anticipated.
NEW ORLEANS
A good chance of showers and thundrestorms Friday, becoming numerous Saturday and Sunday. East winds mostly in the 15 to 25 mph range, but stronger than that along the SW Louisiana coast.
GALVESTON
Showers and thunderstorms more numerous by Friday with NE wind increasing to 55 mph in the afternoon. A 100 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms with hurricane force winds increasing to 75-85 mph after midnight Friday night. Numerous showers and thunderstorms with strong winds continuing on Saturday.
http://www.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.html
But here is Rita in a nutshell:
LOCATION
Near latitude 24.4 N, longitude 86.8 W, or about 600 miles ESE of Galveston and about 700 miles EST of Corpus Christi.
WINDS
Sustained to 165 mph with higher gusts. This makes Rita an extremely dangerous Category 5. Hurricane force winds extend out 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend out up to 175 miles making Rita not only a super powerful hurricane, but a very large one.
PRESSURE
It has been falling rapidly during the day and is now down to 914 mb or 26.99 inches.
OTHER NOTES
* A Hurricane Watch now in effect along the Gulf Coast from Port Mansfield, Texas north and east to Cameron, Louisiana.
* Rita was moving toward the west about 13 mph.
* Late this afternoon, a hurricane hunter dropped an instrument package down through the hurricane and discovered one peak wind gust to 198 mph, however, that was not at the surface.
* Rita will become a historic hurricane unless something unforeseen happens. Landfall is expected on the central part of the Texas Gulf coast very early Saturday. Damage may be of catastrophic proportions even though she may weaken a bit before landfall.
* Satellite photographs of Rita are classic. They will surely wind up in meteorology text books at some time in the future.
* Late this afternoon, some data buoys south of the Louisiana coast were reporting winds near tropical storm force.
* As the storm gets closer to land, we will start including some spot reports from buoys and land stations, especially along the Texas and Louisiana coast.
GULF COAST IMPACTS
GULF SHORES
No real strong winds expected. Over the next couple of days east winds will be generally 15 to 25 mph. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect due to water piling up along the coast from the brisk easterly winds. Scattered showers and thunderstorms starting tomorrow and extending into the weekend--about a 50 percent chance each day.
GULFPORT/BILOXI
Showers and thunderstorms becoming more numerous Friday and Saturday and especially on Sunday. No unusually strong winds anticipated.
NEW ORLEANS
A good chance of showers and thundrestorms Friday, becoming numerous Saturday and Sunday. East winds mostly in the 15 to 25 mph range, but stronger than that along the SW Louisiana coast.
GALVESTON
Showers and thunderstorms more numerous by Friday with NE wind increasing to 55 mph in the afternoon. A 100 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms with hurricane force winds increasing to 75-85 mph after midnight Friday night. Numerous showers and thunderstorms with strong winds continuing on Saturday.