"Rita has stopped wobbling, leveled off and is now bearing down on Galveston again"
That is what I thought too.
Check this 12 hour loop, the last few frames really show it turning west.
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/satellite/displaySat.php?region=GOM&itype=ir&size=large&endDate=20050923&endTime=-1&duration=12
That wasn't a wobble, it was a hook, and right now the storm is within 4 miles of the 1700 projected track, probably less than 3.
That puts Galveston Bay just west of the major surge effect.
Keep your fingers crossed.
I've noticed the same thing. In the past hour or two, it is moving almost due west. This could still be a wobble.. but, it looks real.
It also looks to me like the upper level shear has subsided. Outflow on the southwestern quadrant has increased and the eyewall appear to be strengthening. I also noticed the the central pressure has dropped slightly since this afternoon. None of these signs are good at all.....
It was sure looking like an La strike.. but, now maybe Galveston is back in play.... Oh my..
That looks mostly west to me. Starting to feel nervous again....