Rita weakens slightly to Category 4
September 22, 2005 - 02:43 PM
This has been an absolutely incredible hurricane season, and we are still near the peak. Hurricane Rita's explosive growth has finally stopped and she has weakened slightly. Fortunately, Rita should slowly continue to weaken until landfall. Category 5 hurricanes are very hard to maintain. At this point it looks like Rita is completing and eyewall replacement cycle and could strengthen very soon.
Aircraft recon earlier reported a central pressure of 897 mb. This makes Hurricane Rita the third most intense hurricane ever record in the Atlantic. This places Rita behind Gilbert in 1988 with 888mb, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane with 892 mb. Last month Hurricane Katrina recorded 902 mb. Right now the central pressure is up to 914 mb. Please remember that althought Rita is now a Category 4 storm, she can still pack storm surge of a Category 5.
http://www.thestormtrack.com/
I guess I am reading that report wrong. Or I've been exposed to too much children's programming. Doesn't this statement contradict itself?