beaudodson
EF5
Waiting for new satellite images. Pressure is up again - I believe now 924 mb or so. Should be an interesting morning ahead. Some amazing images of Rita over the past 36 hours.
Originally posted by Sam Sagnella
I agree with your landfall target, Howie, and I personally am very much still thinking this is going to be a Freeport-Galveston storm. The 00z model output still remains clustered from just to the E of Galveston to the TX/LA border, but, especially after this (temporary?) jog to the left, Rita still has a LOT of latitude to gain if she's going to make the TX/LA border area. I'm sticking with my original target near the Freeport area, but may need to shift slightly to the east in the morning. My bottom line is that I think this will make landfall to the southwest of Galveston Bay.
As far as intensity is concerned, I would really like to see the post-ERC restrengthening start up before I commit to anything drastic, but overall I think Rita will have a similar intensity to Katrina at landfall -- 145mph.
HURRICANE RITA DISCUSSION NUMBER 22
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2005
FLIGHT LEVEL WIND DATA AND RADAR OBSERVATIONS FROM THE AIR FORCE
HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT THE CONCENTRIC EYEWALL
CYCLE MIGHT BE NEARING COMPLETION. THERE IS NOW ONLY A SINGLE
FLIGHT LEVEL WIND MAXIMUM AT A RADIUS OF ABOUT 20 N MI...ASSOCIATED
WITH THE OUTER EYEWALL THAT THE AIRCRAFT RADAR INDICATE IS SLOWLY
CONTRACTING... WHILE THE INNER EYEWALL CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE.
Well, maybe at 11PM but current data seems to beg to differ -- would appear to be a double maxima there.
As a Houstonian, we are terrified. Please pray for an eastern Texans/Louisiana impact.
As a Houstonian, we are terrified. Please pray for an eastern Texans/Louisiana impact.
To our guest... Houston is 50 feet above sea level and will NOT experience a Katrina type storm surge. If the storm were to wobble west of the forecast path than Galveston and the bay-side eastern burbs would get some water. If the storm hits as forecast than there will be 20 feet of water plowing through Sabin Lake into Port Aurther and Beaumont with their combined population of 160,000 and huge Exxon oil refinery. This isn't a situation I'd pray for. Best of luck to all Texans. Stay safe and definately don't venture out during the storm. Many people needlessly die when they are hit with trees while on foot or in a vehicle