The water temps are certainly warm enough to sustain a cat 4 storm and even bring this on the verge of a cat 5. Look no further than Hurricane Opal when it rapidly intensified to about 150 to 155mph in mid October about 7 years ago. It doesn't take 90 degree waters to get a cat 4/5. You need warm water and favorable atmospheric condidtions to get a powerful storm. Both conditions exist today. This storm will also completely miss the region of water crossed by Katrina. So there is no benefit from upwelling. A direct hit on the Houston area could have a devistating impact on the insurance industry (not that im complaining about insurance companies taking a hit).

Originally posted by justme1640
Dr Love -- a hurricane doesn't guarantee a cool down -- Have known it to be hotter and more humid after them so watch what you wish for. Plus if you lose power you don't have your fans or ac to deal with the hot and humid weather.

Well, cloud cover does. You see here in Houston when a cloud passes in front of the sun the temperature drops ten freakin' degrees. We have the worst smog in America. Combine that with the humidity of some Vietnamese jungle and the baking sun and you have the most hellish kind of heat you could imagine. Just cloud cover makes a big difference in temperature.

As far losing power goes, I live in Tom DeLay's Congressional district. Our power will be one of the first to come back on.

Peace

[edit on 20-9-2005 by Dr Love]

A cell capable of producing tornadoes moving in... tornado warning issued till 3pm

Tornado warning Broward? county - Cooper City area next 30 mins new here and dont know how to post "news"

Plantation Key - 15 mins tornado!

Seems it´s getting worse...Hope you still have power...

I have a bad feeling for Houston this time around.




Stock up on OIL/GASOLINE now...its going to be a long winter

It's not looking good for the Keys as of 4:19pm Eastern on Tuesday.

And as you all know, it's heading straight for Texas. Bet you disaster response teams are ready for that.




[edit on 20-9-2005 by Mirlin11]

Pressure continues to fall at a slow but steady rate, now at 973.

In the 5PM forecast advisory the NHC has upped the strength prediction to Cat 4 (115 KT/133MPH) on landfall.

Ogggh.
Seems that Katrina´s twin is coming.

Boy this is lame for Southerners.

Also, it's lame for us Northerners who love the rain.

On behalf of the Northeast, I respectfully request all further hurricanes be directed up the coast. Give folks along the gulf a chance to catch their breath.

Would anyone even be surprised if we saw 4 more category 4 hurricanes conga-line right along the same path before the season is over? I think three more are already lined up in the tropics, aren't they?

I also saw a storm system north of Canada's eastern coast on the radar. The system had good rotation and a very cohesive appearance. Will it sink down into my area perchance?

One final note, anybody having flashbacks from The Day After Tommorow? Yaknow, global superstorms that cover a third of a continent each to start, and eventually span out to include the entire globe? Anybody think we're only a decade or so away from that eventuality?

It was a brutally hot summer in some places, and now it's shaping up to be a short and savage winter. If that's the case, early spring means even worse temperatures and corresponding hurricane season next year. And so on, until the superstorms materialize in a few decades, or less.

Anyone think this isn't so far-fetched?

OK, I'm sounding like a broken record, but the pressure continues it's trend, now down to 970.

Katrina I believe at cat 5 was 908 if I am not mistaken. Whatever it was Rita for sure has the same chance. I feel sorry for those folks in texas if thats where it ends up.

Originally posted by Harry55
Katrina I believe at cat 5 was 908 if I am not mistaken. Whatever it was Rita for sure has the same chance. I feel sorry for those folks in texas if thats where it ends up.

She was actually lower, 902 I'm pretty sure, 4th strongest ever recorded.

I predict Rita will be a Cat 5 sometime during her life, whether she hits as one will probably be just chance based on her eye wall replacement cycle.