Latest Satellite image of Rita:




Rita didn't live up to her billing in the Keys. She's intensifying on her way toward Texas. On ABC News at 7pm, they are predicting she will become a category 4 by the time she hits the Texas and Lousiana coasts.

[edit on 20-9-2005 by Mirlin11]

She's definitely developing a distinct eye and somewhat overall symmetrical shape.

Latest hunter flight shows steady lowering pressure, now 967mb with 94kt/108mph winds and a closed eye formation.

Here is how I think its going to play out, she will be a 3, if she stays on the most southern path the stronger she will be. Each path north of the the most southern projected, weaker and weaker north.

A lot of the colder water from deeper in the gulf was churned by katrina close to NO and east of that. If Rita stays low she might be as big as katrina.

If there are more storms this season, no bigger than a 3. As if a 3 is little.

Psyopswatcher, They pretty well point to texas. If I was in that projected path I would be getting out soon. Can you imagine how many people there must be in that swath ? With Rita shaping up like it is this very possibly could be another once in a life time storm.

Joe Bastardi was on FOX, he said it would become a 5 and hit as 4 or 5 and would be the most powerful storm to hit that region in over 100 years. I wouldn't take this lightly, it really does look it could be another Katrina.

[edit on 9/20/2005 by djohnsto77]

With all the homeless and evacuated out of New Orleans and other Katrina hit areas where are all the folks in Texas going to retreat to ? This is going to be a big problem. I hope the goverment is ready for this one.

Originally posted by djohnsto77
Joe Bastardi was on FOX, he said it would become a 5 and hit as 4 or 5 and would be the most powerful storm to hit that region in over 100 years. I wouldn't take this lightly, it really does look it could be another Katrina.

[edit on 9/20/2005 by djohnsto77]

He seems to be one of the more accurate meteorologists out there, if I lived ANYWHERE on Texas coast I'd get out right now, tonight.

Looking at the latest satellite image and radar from Key West I'm going to speculate that the 2am advisory will have this storm at cat 3 strength with 120mph winds. I also want to mention that with each passing run the models are shifting the storms track a little further right (east) each time. The BAMM model which posted at 8pm has the track into the very western end of LA. AVN which posted at 2pm has the storm going in at the very eastern edge of TX. Also the NHC is forecasting winds of 140mph in 72 hours. The odds seem very high that we will be looking at the 2nd major hurricane this year to hit a large city center.

I reside just west of Houston and persons in our neighborhood are taking the advisories seriously. Our local municipal government has issued warnings that sustained wind will be expected to reach 110+ mph in our immediate area should Rita make landfall as a cat 4 or strong cat 3. We experienced no flooding during Allison; but the probable winds are what most persons in my area are watching very closely.

I also have a house down on Bolivar Peninsula (Crystal Beach). The projected storm surge (if Rita lands where predicted) would wipe out our small community there. I have contacted some of the neighbors in our section which are full time residents and they are all moving out no later than Wednesday night. Interstate 45 inbound to Galveston will be closing in the morning for outbound traffic only and a mandatory general evacuation is expected to follow. Galveston and the surrounding areas, in my experience, are fairly proficient when facing these types of threats and transportation is organized for persons 'unable' to evacuate.


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