Rita now a Category 3 hurricane

CNN ^ | September 21, 2005

[RWR8189]

KEY LARGO, Florida (CNN) -- Hurricane Rita, moving westward away from the Florida Keys, early Wednesday strengthened into a Category 3 storm, capable of causing extensive damage.

It is the fifth major hurricane of the 2005 season, which runs until November 30.

Rita's sustained winds swelled to 115 mph early Wednesday, with higher gusts, and cities in its projected path ordered evacuations in preparation for another possible siege of floodwaters.

Rita's winds extended outward up to 45 miles from the storm's center.

National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasters predicted that by Wednesday evening Rita could strengthen to a Category 4 -- the same strength as deadly Hurricane Katrina when it made landfall Aug. 29 near the Louisiana-Mississippi state line, devastating New Orleans and nearby Gulf Coast cities.

A Category 4 storm, with top sustained winds of 131 to 155 mph, can cause extreme damage, according to the Saffir-Simpson scale measuring hurricane strength. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said Rita's winds could increase to 145 mph by landfall.

[Paleo Conservative]

Well someone can give me a report after its over. I'm evacuating. After Celia, I don't stick around to ride out hurricanes.

[RWR8189]

Best of luck to you!

[andie74]

Take care, FRiend.

Check in when you get to your destination.

[Billthedrill]

Best of luck and may you find a dry shelter and a warm bed. You need help, holler.

[Tall_Texan]

As our local newscaster teased, "They grow up soooo fast!"

[Howlin]

Did you not notice the 2200+ post thread over here?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1487888/posts

[DirtyHarryY2K]

[Spktyr]

Most of those tracks have the hurricane crossing or passing near Austin and Dallas and points between. Those of us in Dallas are going to get a really big rainstorm, at the very least.

Better get ready, if you're not already.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Yep, I'm 75 mi N of Houston. If the thing doesn't track furthre west I will have to batton down the hatches asap!

[RWR8189]

No...I can't say I did....

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Hey Rita

[RunningWolf]

But.. but.. Cindy.. her tour. This cant be.. How will she get her MSM coverage? ITS ALL A PLOT she says.. Bush Rove.. Rove Bush.. if Bush just resigned now the hurricanes would end.. she knows it ;)

[TypeZoNegative]

This picture is perfect for this occasion.

[spycatcher]

Incredible NASA image:

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/2005263-0920/Rita.A2005263.1835.1km.jpg

[Old Seadog]

Hold on to your hats. Here we go again!

[familyop]

"After Celia, I don't stick around to ride out hurricanes."

I was there, too. The anemometers (for measuring wind speeds) broke. It was weird. ..and strange as to how the recorded top speeds have been adjusted down since. All of the partially brick veneered houses in my neighborhood were leveled (rigidity), but all of the residents of those houses had evacuated. The wood frame houses that were built for hurricanes withstood to various extents.

Although sitting through several hours of rumbling and pulsating walls was rough, the toughest part of it for us was doing without electricity and phones for so long afterward.

[justa-hairyape]

It will be interesting to see how large the Eye of this Hurricane will become. Rita may travel over this heated water for a slightly longer period of time (based on traveling to the Western Gulf) then Katrina traveled. That Hurricane not only peaked at a Cat 5, but it also had an enormous Eye. How large an area of the coast gets exposed to Cat 3 or higher winds, may be just as important as which point on the coast is landfall.

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