[Southack]

"It's pretty obvious you aren't reading the real-time weather forums if you think its weakening in the last hour." -BearWash

Hurricane Rita weakens still more
9/23/2005 2:00 p.m. ET

Persistent weakening has brought Hurricane Rita down to a Category 3 storm. The eye is heading for a Saturday morning rendezvous with the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana Gulf Coast.

[kjam22]

I keep thinking this thing is going to turn even more north like Katrina did at the last minute. I wouldn't be surprised if it hit coast further east than most are guessing.

[oceanview]

the weakening phase is over according to almost all current forecasts.

[steve86]

The signs of strengthening (DEEP CONVECTION; COLD CLOUD TOPS; LIGHTNING) to which I referred did in fact take place subsequent to the downgrade to Category 3. This is why the wx people were making a big deal of it -- AFTER THE DOWNGRADE. You are playing games by delaying your response until the situation changed again. There is a slight drop in pressure again now.