Yes. On TWC, they keep saying 140 is the latest info. Bull. That info is what, four hours old now? Are they going to softpedal this now? What for? Nobody had any qualms about reporting it when Katrina got up to 175. Tell the people how bad this thing is. Maybe a few extra ones will evacuate.
CAT 5
923mb
164 max winds
Actually 140 mph may still be right. The aircraft reported flight level winds at 142 knots (163 mph) and those are usually a good bit higher than ground-level winds. So 140-145 mph is still quite plausible.
I don't know if the winds lag a few hours behind the pressure, maybe the rapid lowering of pressure means that the winds will increase in a few hours. Or maybe they won't increase at all. But the rapid intensification is scary any way you cut it.
}:-)4
Accuweather is almost calling it:
RECON FINDS 175 MPH FLIGHT LEVEL WIND
RITA NEARING CAT 5 HURRICANE!
The NOAA airplane investigating Rita found a peak wind of 175 mph. The pressure has fallen to 923 mb, which is just shy of the 920 mb Cat 5 pressure. Rita continues to strengthen and will become a Cat 5 hurricane.
http://home.accuweather.com/index.asp?partner=accuweather
Agreed- but OTOH- Katrina was a cat 5 for awhile too before it backed off to a 4- though it seems parts of MS may have been hit with Cat5 winds. We still have two days before landfall too..if there's an reforming of the eyewall it may waver for a minute:)