[NautiNurse]

Per usual, please keep graphics < 50KB. Post links to large graphics.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Lovely. A meter maid. :-(

[NautiNurse]

Tropical Storm Rita threatening So. Florida

[PeteB570]

We're up to the "R"s with Rita. Didn't one year have us work all the way through the alphabet and start all over again?

[realpatriot]

Just damned. And I'm stuck with dial-up since BellSouth's DSL is down for the count.

[beltfed308]

The grocery stores are a mad house in Key West right now.

[Clara Lou]

Hmmm-- forecasted to come straight into the Gulf. It's early on, I know, but I wonder if Mr. Ray Nagin is going to stick to his plan to bring people back into NO right away?

[osagebowman]

TD-18 now TS-Rita

[Dog Gone]

You're right to chuck those models that don't perform well in the tropics. On the other hand, though, none of the models are very good five days out and we're basically just speculating at this point.

Texas definitely has a high pressure ridge over it for the first part of the week, but that's not the critical time period. Whether it moves or holds will make all the difference.

The worst case scenario, of course, is that Rita makes landfall just southwest of Galveston as Cat 4 or 5 storm. That would push the storm surge into Galveston Bay and knock out a huge percentage of the country's refining capacity. The best case scenario is that she slams into Mexico, although we get a lot of our oil imports from the Bay of Campeche, so even the best case isn't good.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long week, with a very active hurricane thread here at FR.

[blam]

"Blam, I'm counting on you to distract this one from where it looks like it's heading."

Haven't let you down yet.

[Doe Eyes]

Wow, based on this track, we should be using every available school bus to get people out of Houston.

What is the name of the Liberal Mayor there?

[Types_with_Fist]

Tropical Storm Rita Live Thread

Dang! Already? Wasn't it just a depression about 15 minutes ago?

[GiveEmDubya]

Too early to tell where this one is going. Those computer models put a landfall anywhere from Veracruz, Mexico to Beaumont, TX. Really big cone of uncertainty.

[osagebowman]

Guess RITA may be heading your way. Hope all stays well for you.

[MinuteGal]

Hey, Nagin, grease up those busses.

Leni

[tiredoflaundry]

*mumbles*

[Tall_Texan]

I don't think Florida has any real worries about this storm (except Pensacola, particularly if Jim Cantore shows up again). This should be just a stiff breeze and some rain rolling through south Florida. The real question is where it goes from there.

As hot as it still is in Texas, I can only assume that there is still plenty of warm Gulf waters for her to intensify once it passes the keys. I'd be perfectly glad to see Texas take the hit this time rather than the poor victims of Katrina. We're Texans. We can handle it.

[Revel]

Your starting anotherone...LOL You may be in for a long week. Lets hope it does not head for Huston as some models suggest. Talk about Gas shortages.

[TXBSAFH]

BOHICA

[freedumb2003]

Evacuate New England! Deploy the Army!

If you wait, they will blame you! Don't take any chances!!!

[uncbob]

I wonder if this thing gets near NOLA if just maybe they will have second thoughts about the rebuilding scope