Yikes. Also, there has been a slight wobble toward the N in recent satellite images.

Save us, Ray Nagin!

Quoted: Save us, Ray Nagin!

I wonder if he's rethinking that hasty move to Texas...

Quoted: Yikes. Also, there has been a slight wobble toward the N in recent satellite images.

Yep, Bush learned his lesson after Katrina. He used to HHM® to turn Katrina north too early last time, and thus out of the warm waters earlier, which in turn weakened the hurricane prematurely.

He won't make the same mistake with Rita. Now that it's a true cat. 5 he can begin curving it north for the knock out blow and finish off all the minorities that he didn't kill the first time around.

It's pretty wild to see that damn thing is the size of FL. No one is safe.

Quoted: Quoted: Yikes. Also, there has been a slight wobble toward the N in recent satellite images. Yep, Bush learned his lesson after Katrina. He used to HHM® to turn Katrina north too early last time, and thus out of the warm waters earlier, which in turn weakened the hurricane prematurely. He won't make the same mistake with Rita. Now that it's a true cat. 5 he can begin curving it north for the knock out blow and finish off all the minorities that he didn't kill the first time around.

You forgot to end your post with a diabolical laugh: Muuuuahhhhahhhhahhhh!

Quoted: Save us, Ray Nagin!

Now that's funny!

Quoted: Save us, Ray Nagin!

Now that's funny!

Quoted: Quoted: Save us, Ray Nagin! I wonder if he's rethinking that hasty move to Texas...

Hurricanes follow him!!! He should be hangued!


TX folks hanging a black dude... That wouldn't go well on the media, wouldn't it?

Man and I am supposed to go on leave right when it is hitting! Damn you GW and your hurricane machine! take out atlanta not N.O.!!!!

Quoted: Quoted: Save us, Ray Nagin! I wonder if he's rethinking that hasty move to Texas...

Hurricanes follow him!!! He should be hangued!


TX folks hanging a black dude... That wouldn't go well on the media, wouldn't it?

somehow i think Texans will be better prepared.  an this has NOTHING to do with NO....its jsut what you do when a 165 mph MoFo is headed your direction.

must majorly SUCK to have blue skies only to know this thing is going to hit you hard

best of luck to you all down there.




keep your levies from breaching...oh wait.....

Pressure is still dropping too...now down to 914 mb. The previous pressure was 920 mb. This storm still hasn't peaked and will likely get even stronger still, until it finally levels off and stabilizes.

Now the talking heads on MSNBC are now advising that "The Weather Center" (not sure who or what that is) says this may become the "strongest hurricane ever".

Either they know something we don't, or else they are starting to sensationalize this bigtime. Sure, it's strong. But it's not yet the "strongest ever". If it hits 190 mph, then we'll talk about it.

Quoted: Now the talking heads on MSNBC are now advising that "The Weather Center" (not sure who or what that is) says this may become the "strongest hurricane ever". Either they know something we don't, or else they are starting to sensationalize this bigtime. Sure, it's strong. But it's not yet the "strongest ever". If it hits 190 mph, then we'll talk about it.

Oh shit.

Quoted: Now the talking heads on MSNBC are now advising that "The Weather Center" (not sure who or what that is) says this may become the "strongest hurricane ever". Either they know something we don't, or else they are starting to sensationalize this bigtime. Sure, it's strong. But it's not yet the "strongest ever". If it hits 190 mph, then we'll talk about it.

I heard one national hurricane center lady on the radio say the strength they take more heed of is the pressure reading.  She was saying that although Katrina was 'only' a catagory 4 that they were stunned by her pressure reading which made for a much stronger storm surge and a more cohesive storm.

That was what they were chattering about before landfall anyway.

Quoted: Now the talking heads on MSNBC are now advising that "The Weather Center" (not sure who or what that is) says this may become the "strongest hurricane ever". Either they know something we don't, or else they are starting to sensationalize this bigtime. Sure, it's strong. But it's not yet the "strongest ever". If it hits 190 mph, then we'll talk about it.

MSNBC now reporting that this could be worse than Y2K...

Quoted: Now the talking heads on MSNBC are now advising that "The Weather Center" (not sure who or what that is) says this may become the "strongest hurricane ever". Either they know something we don't, or else they are starting to sensationalize this bigtime. Sure, it's strong. But it's not yet the "strongest ever". If it hits 190 mph, then we'll talk about it.

it has very favorable conditions and plenty of time to strengthen. to me, it already looks better on the images than katrina did. will definitely be interesting to watch over next few days.

It is "prettier" than Katrina. This hurricane looks "textbook" perfect in terms of symmetry on the satellite images.

TX folks hanging a black dude... That wouldn't go well on the media, wouldn't it?

You just can't drag him behind the truck first.

Hey you, what do you think would happen if we shot a ******* AT4 at hurricane Rita

Quoted: Hey you, what do you think would happen if we shot a ******* AT4 at hurricane Rita

HEH!

Quoted: ... will definitely be interesting to watch over next few days.

That may be an understatement for the folks in Texas.  

Quoted: Quoted: Save us, Ray Nagin! Now that's funny!

I find it interesting that in a conversation last night with the Executive Director of a local Emergency Management Agency, he had no compunction in calling Nagin "an idiot of collosal proportions" and that Nagin should be "held criminally liable for many deaths and infringements of Constitutional Rights".

A fact that I found even more interesting is that the ED is himself black. He must have better things to do than listen to the race-baiting antics of Jackson, Sharpton, etal.

Quoted: Quoted: Hey you, what do you think would happen if we shot a ******* AT4 at hurricane Rita HEH!

Nah, 50+ Megaton Nuke.

These are from savannah-weather.com, BTW. Check them out, ocassionally they'll post some really high-res ones, like the second one.

Rita is now the 3rd most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic basin!!!!

000
WTNT63 KNHC 212351
TCUAT3
HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
650 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...RITA BECOMES THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD...

DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT AT 623 PM CDT...2323Z...INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS
FALLEN TO BELOW 899 MB...OR 26.55 INCHES. THE DROPSONDE INSTRUMENT
MEASURED 32 KT/35 MPH WINDS AT THE SURFACE...WHICH MEANS IT LIKELY
DID NOT RECORD THE LOWEST PRESSURE IN THE EYE OF RITA. THE CENTRAL
PRESSURE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST AS LOW AS 898 MB...AND PERHAPS EVEN
LOWER. FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES... A PRESSURE OF 898 MB IS ASSUMED...
WHICH NOW MAKES RITA THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF
PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SOME ADDITIONAL DEEPENING AND
INTENSIFICATION IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO.

RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MB
AND THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB.

FORECASTER STEWART

$$

Quoted: Rita is now the 3rd most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic basin!!!! 000 WTNT63 KNHC 212351 TCUAT3 HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 650 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005 ...RITA BECOMES THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE ON RECORD... DROPSONDE DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT AT 623 PM CDT...2323Z...INDICATED THE CENTRAL PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO BELOW 899 MB...OR 26.55 INCHES. THE DROPSONDE INSTRUMENT MEASURED 32 KT/35 MPH WINDS AT THE SURFACE...WHICH MEANS IT LIKELY DID NOT RECORD THE LOWEST PRESSURE IN THE EYE OF RITA. THE CENTRAL PRESSURE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST AS LOW AS 898 MB...AND PERHAPS EVEN LOWER. FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES... A PRESSURE OF 898 MB IS ASSUMED... WHICH NOW MAKES RITA THE THIRD MOST INTENSE HURRICANE IN TERMS OF PRESSURE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SOME ADDITIONAL DEEPENING AND INTENSIFICATION IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO. RITA CURRENTLY RANKS BEHIND HURRICANE GILBERT IN 1988 WITH 888 MB AND THE 1935 LABOR DAY HURRICANE WITH 892 MB. FORECASTER STEWART $$

Holy freakin shit!

898 mb is insane central pressure. And it may keep getting stronger for 12 more hours? Wow. We may see this bitch top out at 180 mph. Insane. Just insane.

This is really weird, getting hit by two cat4-5 hurricanes within a month.  Man, I've got to watch movie The Day After Tomorrow again.

Quoted: This is really weird, getting hit by two cat4-5 hurricanes within a month.  ...

I suspect some White House staff member mistook President Bush’s Hurricane Making Machine <patent applied for> for an air conditioner and pushed the “ON” button.  

Wow, say goodbye to Galveston...

Last night on the news I saw a computer rendering of what a Katrina-like storm surge would do. Galveston was gone.

Quoted: Wow, say goodbye to Galveston... Last night on the news I saw a computer rendering of what a Katrina-like storm surge would do. Galveston was gone.

Yeah, I saw that too.  

Correction: as of 7a.m. CST 170+mph sustained winds, gusts up to 210+
As seen on FNC

Latest, as of 10 AM CDT (note who the forecaster is, someone we all know....:  Currently 907 mb.



"000
WTNT33 KNHC 221454
TCPAT3
BULLETIN
HURRICANE RITA ADVISORY NUMBER  20
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
10 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2005

...RITA EXPECTED TO WEAKEN SLIGHTLY BUT FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL AS
A DANGEROUS HURRICANE...

...A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED...

AT 10 AM CDT...1500Z...A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM PORT
O'CONNOR TEXAS TO MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS
THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND
PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

AT 10 AM CDT...1500Z...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM
SOUTH OF PORT O'CONNOR TO PORT MANSFIELD TEXAS. A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF LOUISIANA
EAST OF MORGAN CITY TO THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. A
TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

AT 10 AM CDT...1500Z...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM
NORTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE MOUTH OF THE
PEARL RIVER INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN.  A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SOUTH
OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BROWNSVILLE TEXAS...AND FOR THE NORTHEASTERN
COAST OF MEXICO FROM RIO SAN FERNANDO NORTHWARD TO THE RIO GRANDE.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 10 AM CDT...1500Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 25.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.7 WEST OR ABOUT 460 MILES...740
KM...SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON TEXAS AND ABOUT 445 MILES...715 KM...
SOUTHEAST OF PORT ARTHUR TEXAS.

RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR. A
GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 36
HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 165 MPH...270
KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. RITA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME SLIGHT WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS BUT RITA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AN EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS HURRICANE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO  85 MILES...140 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 185 MILES...295 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 907 MB...26.78 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE
EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE RIGHT OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL.
TIDES ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING ABOUT 1 FOOT ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE
MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA COASTS IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY KATRINA.
TIDES IN THOSE AREAS WILL INCREASE UP TO 3 TO 4 FEET AND BE
ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE WAVES...AND RESIDENTS THERE COULD EXPERIENCE
SOME COASTAL FLOODING.

RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM 15
INCH TOTAL ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF RITA PARTICULARLY OVER
SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND WESTERN LOUISIANA. IN ADDITION...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS. BASED ON THE FORECAST TRACK...RAINFALL
TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 25 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AFTER RITA MOVES INLAND.

REPEATING THE 10 AM CDT POSITION...25.4 N... 88.7 W.  MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR  9 MPH.  MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...165
MPH.  MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 907 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 1 PM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 4 PM
CDT.

FORECASTER AVILA

$$"

Link:  Rita Storm Advisory

Merlin

Everybody is evacuating, but who knows where it's going to go? It could turn and go thru New Orleans again. It could go south into Mexico. It could just sit out there...

That's why local gov't's need to be prepared.

A scary super storm to be sure!

By the by- Top off your gas tanks at your earliest convenience- Gas is up 32 cents/gal this morning alone around here. (was $2.57, now $2.89)