Rita is now a CAT 4!!

[Virgo10]

This is just WRONG.

BULLETIN
HURRICANE RITA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 15A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
8 AM EDT WED SEP 21 2005

...SATELLITE SUGGESTS THAT RITA HAS BECOME A CATEGORY FOUR
HURRICANE...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
THE MARQUESAS KEYS WESTWARD TO THE DRY TORTUGAS.

INTERESTS IN THE NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF RITA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 8 AM EDT...1200Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 24.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 85.3 WEST OR ABOUT 195 MILES...
WEST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA AND ABOUT 790 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF
CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS.

RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 14 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION
IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THIS MOTION SHOULD
BRING THE CENTER OF RITA FARTHER AWAY FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS OVER
THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO TODAY.

SATELLITE IMAGERY SUGGESTS THAT RITA HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGHTEN AND
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 135 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. RITA IS NOW A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
SCALE. A NOAA PLANE WILL CHECK THE INTENSITY LATER THIS MORNING.
SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES FROM THE
CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140
MILES.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 948 MB...28.00 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 6 FT ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS
IS POSSIBLE IN THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA. STORM SURGE
FLOODING ELSEWHERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND SOUTH FLORIDA SHOULD
SUBSIDE TODAY.

RITA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1
TO 3 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF EXTREME SOUTHERN FLORIDA AND THE
FLORIDA KEYS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES...WITH MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...ARE POSSIBLE OVER
NORTHWEST CUBA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE
OVER THE NORTHERN YUCATAN PENINSULA.

REPEATING THE 8 AM EDT POSITION...24.4 N... 85.3 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST NEAR 14 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...135 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 948 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
11 AM EDT.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Wow that was quick.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

How in the world do they do that that quick?

She was stubborn and holding the TS status for so long (about 24-36 hours longer than expected)....I had high hopes that she would be wimpy.

 

[Serena]

Rita's bad and has time to gain strength. Be safe.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yeah there is NO shear ahead of her. The only thing is hopefully she hits the water churned up by Katrina.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good wishes and prayers for those in line of Rita.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Holy cow. That was quick.

Praying for anyone in her Path.

Trappedinbox (Tracy) - Hope you and your family are safe and sound.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Holy cow.
Prayers for everyone in the path. I just realized my friend's at boot camp is in the path

 

[Mickey Mouse Kid]

I am in the path of it (not directly) i hope it turns away!

 

[mtblujeans]

How in the world do they do that that quick?

She was stubborn and holding the TS status for so long (about 24-36 hours longer than expected)....I had high hopes that she would be wimpy.

I was up earlier than usual yesterday morning and I was watching national weather reports on one of the early news programs. They were saying that once Rita clears Florida, she could pick up speed and become a 4 due to currents and other things I don't quite understand. I was hoping they were wrong!

 

[WDWHound]

Evenb as far inland as Austin we are preapring for this storm. Rigght now it looks like the eye will pass to the east of us, but we can still expect to see tropical force winds. If the eye moves a bit to the west from its projected path, Austin could experiecne a Cat 1 hurricane (not somehting that we are used too this far inland) and a high risk of tornados.

The Austin City Limits music festival is this weekend and they refuse to cancel it. This, combined with the large number of katrina refugees we have, means that most of our hotels are already full. Its gonna be an interesting weekend.

 

[Dooda]

I'm in Matagorda County, and so far the predictions are she's heading right for us. I'm pretty well packed up, waiting for work to let us off. My son and I will head out either this evening or early in the morning going to Austin. Dh is trying to get a flight to Houston from Nashville and having some difficulties.
Thanks for the prayers, they're appreciated. My prayers sent out to others too.


Dooda

 

[WDWHound]

I'm in Matagorda County, and so far the predictions are she's heading right for us. I'm pretty well packed up, waiting for work to let us off. My son and I will head out either this evening or early in the morning going to Austin. Dh is trying to get a flight to Houston from Nashville and having some difficulties.
Thanks for the prayers, they're appreciated. My prayers sent out to others too.


Dooda

If you are heading here, make your hotel reservations NOW. Theres not much left, though there are a few rooms in Round Rock and Georgetown.

 

[dturner]

I heard on the news last night that there are no hotels available in Dallas and Waco only had 6 rooms available and I'm sure they are gone.

So scary!!

I'm a little north of Dallas but I was wondering if I should stock up on non-perishibles - if this thing hits as a 4 or 5 I guess we would have lots of bad weather and storms and might loose electricity - OK, I just talked myself into it - going to the grocery store on my way home to stock up.

 

[Dooda]

thanks for the info- I have family in austin and roundrock, but, you're right, they have filled fast. Several co-workers are having a really tough time finding a room (they were initially slated for storm crew and now don't have to stay). Everything's full from here to Austin and San Antonio and past.
I'm trying to get in touch with my cousins to see if it's ok for a couple of my co-workers to come with me.

 

[Planogirl]

I still suggest heading up to Abiline, San Angelo and some of the other upper West Texas towns. They're not all that far from San Antonio or Fort Worth so the location isn't too bad.