Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
300 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-220400-
ALFALFA OK-GRANT OK-KAY OK-WOODS OK-HARPER OK-WOODWARD OK-NOBLE OK-
ELLIS OK-GARFIELD OK-MAJOR OK-PAYNE OK-KINGFISHER OK-LOGAN OK-
BLAINE OK-DEWEY OK-ROGER MILLS OK-LINCOLN OK-CUSTER OK-CANADIAN OK-
OKLAHOMA OK-CADDO OK-BECKHAM OK-WASHITA OK-POTTAWATOMIE OK-
SEMINOLE OK-CLEVELAND OK-GRADY OK-MCCLAIN OK-HUGHES OK-KIOWA OK-
GREER OK-HARMON OK-PONTOTOC OK-GARVIN OK-COMANCHE OK-JACKSON OK-
COAL OK-ATOKA OK-STEPHENS OK-MURRAY OK-TILLMAN OK-JOHNSTON OK-
CARTER OK-COTTON OK-JEFFERSON OK-MARSHALL OK-BRYAN OK-LOVE OK-
HARDEMAN TX-WILBARGER TX-FOARD TX-WICHITA TX-CLAY TX-ARCHER TX-
KNOX TX-BAYLOR TX-
300 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...IMPACTS ON OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS FROM HURRICANE RITA...

WHILE UNCERTAINTY STILL REMAINS IN THE EXACT PATH OF RITA...THE
LATEST DATA SUGGEST IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LIKELY THAT REMNANTS
OF THE STORM WILL EFFECT THE LOCAL AREA SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. IF
THE STORM TAKES A MORE EASTERLY TRACK IT IS LIKELY THAT LITTLE OR NO
EFFECTS FROM THE STORM WILL BE EXPERIENCED LOCALLY.

SHOULD THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK OF THE HURRICANE VERIFY...THE
FOLLOWING EFFECTS WILL BE POSSIBLE...IF NOT LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS
OF WESTERN NORTH TEXAS AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

1. 25 TO 35 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS...WITH WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH...
SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM WICHITA FALLS... TO LAWTON... TO
OKLAHOMA CITY AND STILLWATER. SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS
SHOULD BE SECURED. WINDS SHOULD TAPER OFF TO 15 TO 25 MPH SUNDAY
NIGHT...BUT THIS WILL BE DEPENDANT UPON THE STRENGTH AND SPEED OF
THE SYSTEM ONCE IT MAKES LANDFALL.

2. HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING. 3 TO 5 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-35
CORRIDOR. MUCH OF SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS
FOR MOST OF THE SUMMER AND THIS RAIN WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL.
HOWEVER...DEPENDING UPON THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF THE SYSTEM...TOO
MUCH RAIN MAY FALL IN TOO SHORT A TIME TO ALLOW SOILS TO SOAK UP THE
RAINFALL. THUS...SOME FLOODING MAY RESULT. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL
LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR LATE THIS WEEKEND.

3. A FEW TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE... MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE
STORMS TRACK. CURRENTLY ALONG AND EAST ON INTERSTATE 35.

4. WET ROADS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND INCREASED TRAFFIC COULD LEAD TO
DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS. ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR TRAVEL
DESTINATIONS THIS WEEKEND.

5. SOME AIRLINE DELAYS WILL BE POSSIBLE. AGAIN...ALLOW EXTRA TIME
TO REACH YOUR DESTINATIONS THIS WEEKEND.

BECAUSE THE TRACK IS STILL UNCERTAIN...THE BEST ADVICE AT THIS POINT
IS TO REMAIN ALERT FOR POSSIBLE IMPACTS LATE IN THE WEEKEND FROM A
WEAKENING RITA.  PLAN NOW AND CONSIDER WHAT STEPS YOU WILL NEED TO
TAKE IF IT BECOMES EVIDENT LATER THIS WEEK THAT RITA WILL INDEED
AFFECT OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

FORECASTS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL MORE PRECISELY FORECAST THE
TRACK OF RITA AND THE POTENTIAL WEATHER IMPACTS ON OKLAHOMA AND
NORTH TEXAS. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION AS WE MOVE
CLOSER TO THE WEEKEND. FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING IMPACTS OF
HURRICANE RITA VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/NORMAN.

$$

30

Thanks for the head sup...

BTW, you still stopping by Thursady afternoon?

yes sir, I think around 4 or alittle after you cool with that?

Quoted: yes sir, I think around 4 or alittle after you cool with that?

Sure, that is fine, I have everything boxed and ready to go.  

Thanks Arokie, feedback left for you in the EE.