The last flight reported 913 mb, a circular 18-48 eye, open NE to SE. Pressure down 2 mb in 90 minutes....
Yes. Max Mayfield saying the pressure "has dropped a bit" and that he is "surprised" by this. He says to count on a Cat 4 at least. Wolf Blitzer trying to get him to talk about New Orleans.
The 4 pm discussion is interesting. Not only is Rita undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle, but it's over a cold eddy in the Gulf right now. They thought about taking her down further, but she's leaving that cold eddy and headed for a hot one. Throw in expected increased shear and they're saying 125 knots up until 36 hours out, when the prediction becomes 120 (still a Cat 4 for those of you reading along) and landfall before 48 hours.